New program pushes digital creation over consumption

Victorian schools are getting a creative boost this year, thanks to a new arrangement designed to support local jobs in the wake of a difficult year.

Developed under the Working for Victoria scheme, which matches employers and workers impacted by the pandemic, the Creative Workers in Schools program is providing a boost for workers in the creative industries. The first 37 creative professionals are just starting work with kids in 32 government schools across Victoria and the program will ultimately fund new jobs for more than 150 artists and other creative experts.

Digital creativity

Among the initiatives, a push to turn students into active makers of digital content — rather than passive consumers — will come to life across Victorian schools in Term 1 of the 2021 school year.

This week Shelley Matulick started working with Kallista Primary School to increase the literacy of students in digital mediums and recognise the need to become active makers in addition to passive consumers. The program will introduce students to the entire gamut of filmmaking skills, including planning, research, writing briefs and scripts, interviewing, camera skills, lighting, sound recording, editing and music production.

Animators, circus performers, designers, fashion designers, filmmakers, landscape architects, musicians, podcasters, poets, puppeteers, sculptors, theatre makers and visual artists are amongst the first creative workers to begin their six-month placements in Term 1.

Creative professionals will work with teachers and students on curriculum-aligned creative projects that respond to schools learning priorities in the arts. Students from prep through to Year 10 will learn new creative skills across a range of subjects.

According to Deputy Premier and Minister for Education James Merlino, both sides benefit.

“This is a win-win for creative workers and kids — we’re creating local jobs for workers in one of the industries most affected by the pandemic and giving local kids an opportunity to gain new creative skills,” he said.

Expressions of interest

The program builds on the success of the long-running creative education programs that 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.

Expressions of Interest are now open for schools and creative workers to apply to the Creative Workers in Schools program for projects and placements commencing in Term 2. EOIs close at 5 pm on 22 February 2021. For more information, visit rav.net.au/creative-workers-in-schools.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/terovesalainen