Local campaign sets stage for student arts experience

THE Aireys Inlet’s community has turned a local fundraising push into a live arts experience for children across the Surf Coast.

Primary-aged students will gather at Aireys Inlet Primary School on Monday for Mission to the Moon, a fully funded performance delivered by Regional Arts Victoria.

The event is the result of the YEAH! 2025 – Young People Education Art Happiness campaign, a grassroots effort that brought together residents, donors and volunteers to secure a professional creative program for regional students.

Led by local volunteer Rebecca Hosking, the initiative set out to give children access to the kind of arts experiences often centred in larger cities.

“Community is everything and the arts create shared moments, spark imagination and enrich our lives in ways that stay with us – especially for children,” Hosking said.

“The intention was to bring to our region an experience that was inspiring, imaginative and professionally delivered.”

Blending storytelling, circus and theatre, Mission to the Moon follows three acrobatic astronauts on a journey from Earth to the Moon, with students stepping into the role of “mission control” as the story unfolds.

Through juggling, acrobatics and physical comedy, the performance introduces concepts such as gravity, orbits and lunar landings in a playful, highly visual way, designed to spark curiosity and make science accessible.

The project has been backed by a network of local contributors, including residents who hosted fundraising events to help bring the performance to life.

The performance will run from 12.30pm to 1.40pm, with invitations extended to children from neighbouring schools and home-schooling families.

Due to the smaller capacity of the school venue, places for the performance are limited.

To register to attend, email Aireys Inlet Primary School at [email protected]