Ambitious, empowering arts experiences
Arena’s Creative Classrooms Program delivers inspiring, high-quality, immersive arts experiences to young people who are limited by geographic and other social barriers to accessing arts programs. Using innovative technology and artistic practices, the workshops encourage and empower students to be creative, critical thinkers and cultural agents within their community and beyond.
The workshops investigate ideas around digital technology and performance, in line with Arena’s interests in innovative theatre and Victorian State Education targets for digital literacy and arts. Workshops take place over the course of a school day with Arena’s artists working intensively with 25 students to create new work. The workshop culminates in participating students performing their work for the school community.
Finally, Arena artists bring students’ reflections and ideas from these workshops into the professional creative development of new works, allowing young people to see themselves and hear their voices in new, original works unlike anything they’ve seen before.
Teacher feedback
“Arena’s workshops have provided our students with a unique arts experience, something that would not be in our capacity to offer any other way. The high level of engagement is ample evidence that students have relished the experience.”
Barbara Napthine
Assistant Principal
Swifts Creek P-12 School
“Arena has delivered a truly professional program which is tailored to adapt to the needs of students and schools and to foster creative and critical thinking, problem solving, team work and self-awareness.”
Heather Macalister
Senior Education Improvement Leader Outer Gippsland
Department of Education and Training
“Arena brings innovative and contemporary thinking to students, linking to essential issues of life and change. Students feel very empowered by the programs, which in some cases has influenced teachers’ perception of students’ potential.”
Bruce Spink
Principal
Cann River P12 College
“Not only have students benefitted and thoroughly enjoyed the experiences but teachers have been afforded the opportunity to develop skills in areas such as digital technology, which have subsequently been applied to classroom practice.”
Heather Macalister
Senior Education Improvement Leader Outer Gippsland
Department of Education and Training