- $527,395 in grants to enrich students’ creativity and critical thinking skills
- 14 successful applicants include schools, arts organisations and individual artists
- Cook Government recognises the benefits of developing creative practices from a young age
Using creativity to enhance the critical thinking skills of children and young people is the Cook Government’s main aim in awarding more than half a million dollars in grants to a wide variety of creative learning projects throughout Western Australia.
A total of $527,395 in funding from the Creativity for Schools program will be given to schools, arts organisations and individual artists who submitted applications in two categories: collaboration and residency.
The collaboration category awards up to $60,000 to projects and/or programs designed to connect Western Australian arts organisations and creative practitioners with schools. The residency category awards up to $20,000 to projects involving artists in residence in school environments, with activity covering about 25 days of engagement per school.
The Creativity for Schools program brings together schools and artists in our community to use creativity and practical learning experiences across the Western Australian curriculum to provide students with tools that they can apply to other areas of their learning.
There were 14 successful applicants in the April 2023 round of funding – eight in the collaboration category and six in the residency category. The projects encompass a variety of arts processes including music, sculpture, art, animation, writing, Aboriginal language and culture and puppetry.
More information about the program is available on the Department of Local Government, Sport and Culture Industries’ website:
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
“The Creativity for Schools funding is designed to stimulate students’ critical and creative thinking as they engage in culture and arts projects and, at the same time, develop skills that they can apply to other areas of their learning.
“The program is also a way of sowing the seeds for the growth of the arts and creative industries in Western Australia, by inspiring young people to discover and develop their creative potential.
“It provides an opportunity for them to learn from seasoned professionals through creative projects and helps them realise how it can improve their critical thinking skills and general wellbeing.
“It was pleasing to see the high number of applications for this second round of funding and the excellent quality of the programs supported – they are all extremely worthy recipients.
“The Cook Government takes great pride in its commitment to the arts and creative industries in Western Australia, reflected by the Creativity for Schools program that develops and fosters the community’s interest and appreciation from a young age.”
As stated by Education Minister Dr Tony Buti:
“I can’t think of a better way to cultivate the creativity of students than to have them collaborate with cultural and arts professionals within our community who act as their teachers and mentors.
“Students of all ages, from kindergarten through to Year 12, will benefit greatly from this valuable funding towards their creative learning and critical thinking.
“Congratulations to all of the recipients and I wish the students well in their artistic endeavours.”
Successful applicants for Creativity for Schools program – collaboration category
Australian Baroque Ltd – Contemplate, Create and Animate to Vivaldi – $59,963
This project is a combination of art forms, exploring the interplay between music, visual, written and spoken word and digital animation art. It is a collaborative creative learning project between Australian Baroque, Rachel Wyder of Wyder Visions, Steve Berrick, Brian Kruger and Shark Bay Primary School.
Breaksea Incorporated – “Aliwah Bardinar! Look-out Rosella!” – $60,000
A Noongar language, creative and performing arts collaboration between Breaksea Wanjoo Productions and Hilton Primary School, creating in over 10 weeks a production of “Aliwah Bardinar!”, a creation-time story of the Western Rosella. A team of eight professional artists will work with teachers and students enhancing learning across Noongar Language Revival and the Arts.
Ellenbrook Cultural Foundation Incorporated – Ellenbrook Arts Creativity for Schools Residency Program 2024 – $60,000
The project will deliver a series of six artist-in-residence opportunities to local schools of Ellenbrook and the City of Swan across three terms in 2024. Each artist will work with the teacher to co-design a 10-week program with the students at the school and engage the students in an art residency that will have an output that is visible in the community.
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts Ltd – PICA Connect: Learning Many Ways – $59,904
This project joins WA artists with schools from Perth and the South West over one year. This integrated learning program is co-designed with schools to build capacity and creative learning through a series of engagements. Students explore diverse points of view, connect with their creative mindsets and create meaningful outcomes through hands-on inquiry.
Perth Symphony Orchestra Limited – Karratha Voices – $59,852
Karratha Voices is a pilot initiative conceived around the unique opportunity to connect the school children of Karratha and Roebourne with a song-writing and music-making project to celebrate their identity, sense of place and diversity as well as to promote inclusion and belonging.
Southern Forest Arts (Inc.) – Boodja Ni: Listening to Country | Listening to each other – $60,000
‘Boodja Ni’ introduces processes of cross-cultural collaboration to staff and students of 6 diverse schools in the Pemberton, Manjimup and Bridgetown areas between March and July 2024. Three Perth artists and two Noongar cultural advisors will alternate between schools across three residency periods. Using multiple art forms, the program cultivates connections with Aboriginal culture, the environment and communities.
West Coast Steiner School – Indonesian Creative Cultural Partnership – Gamelan and Wayang – $11,040
A series of Gamelan and Wayang puppet workshops for West Coast Steiner School students from pre-primary to Year 6 with professional learning included to integrate across the curriculum and enhance teaching methods. The project will showcase aspects of authentic Indonesian culture to students and the school community through workshops and school/community performances.
Yiyili Community Indigenous Corporation – Yiyili Community Creative Learning Program – $52,900
This program places great importance on youth engagement with culture, community elders, and artistic practice. Laarri artists will lead weekly sessions with students from the Yiyili Aboriginal Community School. The project includes mentoring and employment opportunities for local artists.
Successful applicants for Creativity for Schools program – residency category
Angela Rossen – Wetland Discovery and Celebration Project with Leeming Primary School – $20,000
A program of multi-disciplinary multimedia workshops and events in which participants learn new skills and collaborate to create a series of artworks celebrating the living things in the nearby wetland environment. Workshops and events will take place in the classroom and at the wetland over October and November 2023. The workshops are designed for different learning levels to include all students at the school, parents and the wider community.
Burns Beach Primary School – Digital Storytelling Project – $19,904
This project will explore storytelling, writing and digital art with staff, students and the wider school community at Burns Beach Primary School. Throughout Term 2, 2024, students will examine, analyse and celebrate place and identity through a series of art and writing workshops.
Hammond Park Secondary College – Cockburn Chronicles, Sculpting Stories and Inspiring Minds – $17,550
This project aims to bring Cockburn’s rich history and vibrant community to life through a captivating sculpture trail throughout the Hammond Park area. Over Term 4, 2023, this collaborative endeavour will engage students at Hammond Park Secondary College to design and make four wooden and metal sculptures that depict Cockburn’s narrative.
Kenneth Paul Allen – Junkadelic Workshops with the Balcatta SHS Education Support Program – $20,000
A series of sculpture and music workshops with the Education Support Program at Balcatta Senior High School. Students in Years 7-12 will produce five sculptures over the course of Term 1, 2024. The program is supported with percussion workshops that culminate in an event at the end of the residency.
Moorine Rock Primary School – Connections to Culture – $6,300
This project will engage students in the history and culture of Moorine Rock in Term 4, 2023. The artist in residence, Natalie Veal, will provide professional learning for teachers and engage students in arts based cross curriculum projects.
Sophia Lark – Engaging and Empowering Children Through Words and Art at Armadale Primary School – $19,982
Sophia Lark, in partnership with Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and the Armadale Environment Centre, will engage two classes of Year 4 students and teachers at Armadale Primary School. Over the course of Terms 1 and 2, 2024, students will explore wildlife conservation and the writing, illustrating and publication process of co-creating a published book.
