Artists, teachers, and creative organisations will be able to foster greater creativity in schools thanks to the Creativity for Schools program grants that open today.
This is the second component of an $8 million funding injection under the Creative Learning Program umbrella. The program is designed to support arts access, participation, and engagement in transformative learning experiences for school students and teachers.
The Creativity for Schools program offers two funding streams for collaborations (up to $60,000) and in-school residencies (up to $20,000).
The Collaboration category offers grants of up to $60,000 for projects and programs designed to connect Western Australian arts organisations and groups with schools. This is open to WA arts and culture organisations, creative practitioners, local government authorities, schools, and not-for-profit community organisations and community services organisations.
The Residency category has grants of up to $20,000 for projects involving artists-in-residence in schools, with activities including approximately 25 days of engagement per school. This is open to creative practitioners and all WA primary and secondary government and non-government schools, including Catholic and independent schools.
Successful projects will enhance student and educator creative learning ability to increase engagement, and support success across the curriculum. The program also aims to improve student engagement in schools, particularly in socially, economically, and geographically disadvantaged areas.
The funding is one arm of the McGowan Government's Creative Learning Program, which was a 2021 State Election commitment.
Applications for both categories of Creativity for Schools open on 1 December 2022, and close on 2 February 2023, with activities beginning in June 2023.
For more information, guidelines, and applications, visit: https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/funding/arts-funding/creativity-for-schools
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
"This is such an important step to ensure young people have access to the arts and creativity while at school.
"This opportunity allows local creatives to share their skills and knowledge with the next generation - and I am excited to see the projects that come out of this.
"The Creativity for Schools projects will also help teach creative thinking, encourage creativity, and emotional intelligence - life skills which students and educators will always be able to draw on. Plus, it's hard to deny that learning creatively is also a lot of fun."
