Lord Howe Island Central School, home to just 35 students and seven staff, is now a canvas for an exciting new arts initiative delivered by the NSW Department of Education's Arts Unit this week.
A team of three Arts Unit specialists have travelled more than 600 kilometres across the Pacific to engage students, staff and the island community in a vibrant program of visual arts workshops.
At the heart of the project will be a Mural in a Day workshop led by regional NSW artist Kate Stehr, who specialises in large-scale sculptures and public artworks that celebrate people and place.
The mural will stand at the entry of the school and serve as a lasting reminder of creativity, connection and the value of arts education in even the most remote corners of NSW.
Stehr, whose practice combines sculpture, drawing and printmaking, will work alongside students to design and paint a mural that reflects Lord Howe Island's unique community and landscape.
Students will also create their own spray-painted calico bags to take home as a personal memento.
Principal Darren Denmead said the project had created a real sense of anticipation across the island.
"The community is aware of the project and there is a buzz around what will be produced," he said.
"These kids are incredibly remote and opportunities like this are few and far between, so we're grateful and excited for what's to come."
In addition to the mural, students will take part in mixed media and printmaking workshops based on the successful Operation Art model, usually delivered in galleries across NSW to coincide with the annual Operation Art exhibition.
These hands-on sessions will be led by Arts Strategy and Programs Coordinator Lisa Van den Dolder, giving students the opportunity to extend their creative skills in new artmaking practices.
For teachers, Operation Art, Annex Art and Mural Project Officer Heidi Windeisen will deliver a professional learning program designed to strengthen staff knowledge and confidence in teaching visual arts from Early Stage 1 through to Stage 3.
Windeisen said the initiative is about equity of access as much as creativity.
"Lord Howe Island Central School is the most remote public school in NSW, and we are so pleased to be able to provide programs of this nature," she said.
"In metropolitan areas, students and teachers can easily access workshops and galleries, but on Lord Howe Island, opportunities like this are rare.
"Bringing these three programs together in one location for the first time is really special."
The Mural in a Day initiative is delivered in schools across the state and designed to foster pride, collaboration and a sense of belonging by engaging entire school communities in the creation of a shared artwork.
The workshops run today and tomorrow.
