The Arts

Definition and rationale

The Arts offer ways to learn about the world that include far more than spoken and written language. When students participate as artists and as audience, they engage their senses, physical skills, emotional and spiritual sensibilities, as well as their intellect to make meaning of the world. Through Dance, Drama, Media, Music and Visual Art we express and communicate what it is to be human and we develop, share and pass on understandings of ourselves, our histories, our cultures and our worlds to future generations.[1]

In each of the Arts, students develop an expressive ‘language’ with which to represent their observations and their response to experiences. The building blocks of that language are the Arts elements that are combined, according to particular design ‘rules’ or principles, so as to express particular feelings and ideas, just as words are combined into sentences using the rules of grammar to communicate particular meaning.

Major outcomes

Students create, present and reflect on their own art work. They also respond to and present the art work of others. As a result they develop knowledge and understanding of how:

Ä arts elements can be arranged to express ideas, using arts tools and techniques

Ä the arts of particular communities and societies, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, have developed in response to, and have shaped, particular times and places

Ä the arts benefit individuals, groups, communities and cultures.

The Arts provide students the opportunity to gain particular knowledge, skills and outlooks that contribute to their development and wellbeing.

They develop:

Ä creative, aesthetic and imaginative abilities

Ä sensory awareness and discrimination

Ä fine and gross motor co-ordination and spatial awareness

Ä knowledge and skill in the use of art materials, tools and techniques suited to purpose and audience.

Through learning in the Arts students:

Ä enjoy imaginative and aesthetic experiences

Ä are confident to work with their perceptions, thinking and imagination in challenging ways.

By engaging as artist and audience, students have an understanding of:

Ä the aesthetics of their own cultures and those of others

Ä the arts as a universal means of communicating

Ä the arts as presenting diverse individual and communal expressions of Australia’s past, present and future, including those of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people.

Ä develop commitment , skills and focus to realise a creative idea as a developed art work by modifying and refining

Ä present art works to a range of audiences for a specific purpose using appropriate cultural protocols.

Responding to and reflecting on Art works

In Years 1, 2 and 3 students:

Ä describe initial impressions and personal interpretations of representations and identify, and express opinions about the use of Arts elements

Ä reflect on the creative process that occurred in their own and others’ art works and on their new understandings

Ä are aware of the place of the Arts in people’s work and community lives.

In Years 4 & 5 students:

Ä identify and explore the influence of social, cultural and historical contexts on particular artists

Ä develop their interpretations through analysing and describing the use of Arts elements and cultural conventions and styles

Ä reflect on the creative process that occurred in their own and others’ art works

Ä share what they have learned and consider future applications of their learning, developing confidence in their creative abilities

Ä are aware that people of all ages and backgrounds choose to work in arts-related careers.

In Years 6 & 7 students:

Ä consider art works in relation to their social, cultural, historical or spiritual contexts

Ä respond to their own and others’ art works, considering intended purpose and audiences

Ä reflect on the creative process that has occurred within one or across several of the Arts

Ä reflect on their learning, apply new understandings and identify future applications, developing the self-confidence to take creative risks

Ä recognise that there are many different Arts disciplines and that people may choose to work as artists or use their expressive capabilities in other areas of their recreational and working lives.

In Years 8 & 9 students:

Ä analyse, evaluate and describe how particular contexts (social, cultural, historical, spiritual, political, technological and economic) influenced the artists’ use of Arts elements and techniques

Ä critically analyse and reflect on the creative process that has occurred within one or across several of the Arts

Ä reflect on their own and others’ learning, apply new understandings and justify future applications

recognise that the Arts provide career opportunities and develop skills that will help them to lead fulfilling recreational and working lives.

For more information contact your Head of Campus.