WELCOME TO PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION FOR 2013

“We are educating children for jobs that do not exist yet, using technologies that have not been invented yet, in order to solve problems that haven’t even been identified yet.”
Sir Ken Robinson (June, 2006)

It’s an interesting provocation in the current climate of education reform and has challenged all of us here in shaping our 2013 performing arts education program.

With increasing evidence that extended engagement with the arts from an early age enhances an individual’s creative, cognitive and social capacities, PP&VA’s performing arts education program seeks to provide multiple opportunities for local young people to meaningfully and extensively engage in arts education in their own community.

The 2013 program gives a local primary student the opportunity to see an hilarious musical theatre performance, enter the fascinating world of dance, learn musical concepts (or clowning or circus and more!) in one of our great workshops, and… work with professional artists to create and perform their very own new work at the Joan in our exciting new project Jigsaw Story.

Similarly, in 2013 a secondary student can be involved in the development of a new Australian work, see an eccentric world music performance, intensively develop their dance skills, create their own new work with professional artists in Flannofest, and…learn the ropes behind the scenes during a work placement.

With a stellar, eclectic and electrifying line up of performances, workshops and artists, make the Joan your home of performing arts education in 2013.

James Fischer
Director, Performing Arts Education
Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre and Q Theatre Company

WELCOME TO VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION FOR 2013

“A deep and sustained engagement in the arts is a precondition for prosperity, peace and preservation, helping children to become the next generation of creators and entrepreneurs, inventors and artists, peace makers and innovators.”
International Art Foundation, Washington DC

Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest offers our region a unique and world class visual arts education resource. In particular the Gallery education programme introduces students to a range of diverse art practices by drawing on the Gallery’s permanent collection of Australian Abstraction, Aboriginal Art, the changing exhibition programme and the artist designed heritage garden.

The highlight in 2013 for primary school audiences is the launch of our new initiative - the Lewers Learning Centre which plays to the innate visual curiosity of children. This exhibition programme supports and amplifies the desire of young audiences to explore and experiment by offering quality artworks as the catalyst for hands-on learning activities. We are delighted to be able to offer a suite of exhibitions across the year designed especially for them.

The Gallery is a rich and dynamic resource for the education community with the flexibility to be able to programme individual excursion itineraries to suit your classroom needs. The 2013 education programme includes studio based art making workshops with our art educators and specialist tutors in a range of art forms as well as educator and curator led tours for both high school and primary school audiences.

We look forward to working with you in 2013.

Naomi McCarthy
Manager, Education
Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest