Classroom creativity creating opportunities

ATTENDANCE is up on Fridays at California Gully Primary School, when Arena Theatre Company take over classrooms to get creative with kids.

Four artists are currently in residence at the school, leading students in visual art, audio and 3D technology activities which will be put on display in an end of term exhibition.

Arena’s executive director Sharon Custers said the program is helping to develop student confidence and creative thinking through opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.

“Schools like this need artists to come in and actually show them what’s possible. That’s why we generally will go to the schools that need us most,” she said.

“The kids get to feel like they’ve made something bigger than what they would normally make.

“Their voices are being listened to and they’re collaborating with the artist, they’re not being told what to do, they’re part of the process.

“For our artists, this is like food for them to be working with young people. It’s amazing for us to be back in schools.”

Arena usually run one or two school residencies a year and a handful of one day workshops across the region.

California Gully Primary School principal Andrew Frawley said the program is also challenging students in the classroom while opening up new opportunities.

“The quality and expertise that is available to us, you couldn’t match it with what Arena is providing for our school at the moment,” he said.

“Since the artists walked in the door the first time, the excitement, engagement and care that’s gone into working with the kids is evident with every session that we’ve had.

“Certainly we’re seeing every day, particularly as the project is moving on, the chance for us to allow kids to explore and create is such an important part of their development.”