The Andrews Labor Government is providing a boost for workers in creative industries through its Working for Victoria initiative, with dozens of creative professionals starting work this week on schools placements.
Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford visited Brunswick North West Primary School where circus artists Tara Gooding, Johanna Fairley and Erick Mitsak will use music, dance, wearable art, costume and circus skills to create a multi-layered, multi-disciplinary parade.
The trio are among the first 37 of 150 Victorian artists and other creative professionals to be employed on six-month full-time contracts as part of the Creative Workers in Schools program.
From Apollo Bay to Altona, Birregurra to Broadmeadows, Numurkah to North Melbourne and Paynesville to Point Cook- kids across Victoria will benefit from the experience of on-staff animators, circus performers, designers, fashion designers, filmmakers, landscape architects, musicians, podcasters, poets, puppeteers, sculptors, theatre makers and visual artists.
The students at Brunswick North West Primary School will learn performance techniques, design their costumes, and then create a performance for the school community.
The Creative Workers in Schools program has been developed to offer new learning experiences to students and teachers in 2021 while providing employment opportunities to Victorians in the creative industries. Creative professionals will work with teachers and students from prep to Year 10 on curriculum-aligned creative projects.
The program builds on the success of the Labor Government's long-running creative education programs which have seen artists and students work on projects including theatre shows inspired by history lessons, STEM-based digital games and song writing and filmmaking projects supporting the English curriculum.
The program is a partnership between Working for Victoria, the Department of Education and Training and Creative Victoria, and will be delivered by Regional Arts Victoria, a peak body for artists and arts organisations with a track record of delivering statewide creative programs.
Expressions of Interest are open for schools and creative workers to apply for term two projects and placements. For more information, visit rav.net.au/creative-workers-in-schools.
Since launching last April, the Working for Victoria initiative has created more than 12,000 jobs. To register for Working for Victoria and search for available jobs, go to vic.gov.au/workingforvictoria.
As stated by Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford
"We're giving kids the opportunity to learn from some of our state's best artists, designers, musicians, filmmakers and writers - and helping creatives to get back to work."
As stated by Minister for Education James Merlino
"Students missed a range of creative experiences during periods of remote learning last year - that's why programs like this are so important for schools in 2021."
As stated by Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson
"Creativity can play a powerful role in education. This program is about supporting creative and community recovery, getting creatives back to work and providing inspiring learning opportunities for students and teachers."
