- More than $480,000 awarded through Creativity for Schools Program
- Eight applicants awarded collaboration grants
- Three applicants awarded residency grants
Students throughout Western Australia will benefit from enriched learning through the arts following the allocation of $485,126 in Creativity for Schools funding for residency and collaboration projects.
The funding program partners schools and creative professionals to embed creativity into learning through arts processes and experiences.
The two program categories, Collaboration and Residency, support access, participation and overall engagement for students from kindergarten to Year 12.
A total of $427,623 was awarded to eight applicants in the collaboration category, which offers grants of up to $60,000 to support activity undertaken in schools with artists and arts organisations. The successful applicants were:
- Bassendean Primary School – The Bilya Project 2023: Sensory narrative about the Swan River (Bassendean Primary School and Governor Stirling Senior High School) – $60,000;
- Christian Aboriginal Parent-directed School in Coolgardie – Karilypa – mulya: A Mini Musical about the journey of language – $56,550;
- City of Melville – Write Club at Caralee Community School (Willagee) – $44,159;
- Norseman District High School – Yalingya: Our Lives, Our Story, Our World – school collaboration – $56,884;
- Sharing Stories Foundation Limited – Texas Downs Joonba and Cultural Media Mentoring at Purnululu School (East Kimberley) – $59,927;
- Studio Schools of Australia Ltd Kimberley – Finding Our Voice Together (Yiramalay Studio School) – $59,203;
- Warlayirti Artists Aboriginal Corporation Inc in Halls Creek – Ninti Kutjarra (Two-Way Knowledge) – $59,600; and
- West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra Association – Eastern Corridor Schools Pathway Program (Armadale Senior High School and Challis Primary School) – $31,300.
The Residency category offered grants of up to $20,000 to support projects involving artists-in-residence in schools, with the activity covering about 25 days of engagement per school. The three successful applicants awarded a total of $57,503 were:
- Kaitlyn Elsegood – Southwell Primary School (Hamilton Hill) Creative Learning Residency – $17,688;
- Roseworth Primary School (Girrawheen) – Quirky Birds Residency – $19,830; and
- Sky River – Eco Puppets and Paper at Augusta Primary School – 19,985.
More information about the program is available at .
The second round of Creativity for Schools is currently open, closing on 1 June, with Round 3 due to open on 22 August 2023.
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
“The Creativity for Schools Program reflects the McGowan Government’s commitment to supporting the development and growth of the arts and creative industries in Western Australia.
“Supporting creative learning programs in schools helps our students to develop creative and critical thinking skills. They develop a lifelong love and appreciation of the arts which contributes positively to their health and wellbeing.
“This program provides an enriched learning experience for students and educators alike through engagement with creative professionals, and it’s particularly pleasing to see schools in our regional areas being awarded these grants.”
As stated by Education Minister Dr Tony Buti:
“This is a great way to encourage creativity and out-of-the-box thinking in our schools so I am delighted that these schools have been selected to take part.”
