- Creative Connections in the Early Years
Children need the arts as much as they need fresh air. Otherwise they perish on the inside. - Philip Pullman, author and illustrator
It is well-known that the early years of life are a critical time for childhood development and wellbeing. What is also becoming better understood is that when children engage in creative activities, their physical and sensory development is stimulated in a variety of ways, which is vital for brain development.
TEYF and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery formed a partnership to support creativity in the lives of young children. With additional funding from the Sidney Myer Fund, the Creative Connections in the Early Years project completed the first 12 month phase of the project.
2nd phase
The project partners are very excited that the Tasmanian Community Fund awarded a grant of $75 400 to continue the project for another 2 years. The grant, together with funding from the Australian Early Development Index, will enable artists-in-residence to be placed in a number of Child and Family Centres around Tasmania. Further details will be provided soon.
Upcoming event
Create, Connect, Empower:
2nd Creative Connections in the Early Years statewide forum
17 & 18 May 2013, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart
Keynote speakers announced:
Dr Barbara Piscitelli, a freelance consultant and researcher in education and the arts. Her research explores cultural policy and childhood, children’s learning in museums, and early childhood visual arts education.
Title of talk: Raising the bar – in search of quality in cultural programs for children and families
Sue Giles, Artistic Director of Polyglot Theatre, an internationally renowned creator of interactive experiences for children and families. With Polyglot, Sue has directed, written or devised fourteen works which have toured nationally and internationally.
Title of talk: Wide Open Window - collaborating with children in arts practice
A Draft Program Summary is available here.
Registrations now open.
Call for expressions of interest: artists-in-residence - Child and Family Centres
The Tasmanian Community Fund and Australian Early Development Index have provided funding to engage artists-in-residence in selected Child and Family Centres in 2013 and 2014.
Expressions of Interest are now open for artists to work with young children, families and staff as part of the Art about Us Program.
Further information is available in the flyer and information sheet/EOI form.
Click on the links for the project documentation to date:
first phase final report (June 2012)
results of the online survey (attachment B)
evaluation of the trial programs (appendix C)
report on the Statewide forum held in March 2012 in Launceston (appendix D)
Young Children, the Arts and Creativity - Statewide Forum, 2nd & 3rd March 2012 Tailrace Centre, Launceston
The Creative Connections in the Early Years Project, with the support of the University of Tasmania, School of Education, hosted a 2-day forum around best practice arts engagement with children in their early years (0 to 6 years) and their families.
A copy of the program is available here.
Presentations available to date are listed below, including audio for the keynote presentations from Friday 2 March.
Conditions for Engagement and Creative Learning - Simon Spain & Robert Brown, ArtPlay
Audio recording
Welcome (Dr Sue Jenkins) & Conditions for Engagement and Creative Learning - part 1
Teachers as Interlocutors: giving voice to children - Professor Susan Wright, University of Melbourne
Audio recording
pecha kucha - session 1
pecha kucha - session 2
The Arts and Young Children: more than playing around - Di Nailon/Sherridan Emery, University of Tasmania
handouts: development stages of early drawing; arts elements; Montessori art education; reflections Reggio Emilia art education; overview of Steiner and art education
Dance: Being in the Space - Jay Watson
Art from plastics: examples of art; working with plastics - making a difference; playing safe with plastics - Liz Russell-Arnot
Young Children and Song workshop notes; why offer songs? - Melinda Risby
The arts and very young children
Creative Connections is based on the crucial role that the early years of life (from 0 to 6 years) play for human development and wellbeing. When children engage in arts activities, their physical and sensory development is stimulated in a variety of ways. These experiences enable exploration, experimentation and communication. This is vital for brain development, as well as a child’s growing understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Linking with artists and arts educators can bring quality art experiences, skill development and opportunities for interaction with, and modelling of, their art making.
The Creative Connections project will
- Bring together and document current learning and resources about the role of the arts, creativity and children in their early years.
- Raise awareness about its importance through workshops, forums and information.
- Investigate how we can build capacity and confidence of parents / carers, Early Years practitioners and artists to provide creative experiences for children. We will trial two programs.
- Develop ways of working together through networks between early years practitioners, parents, arts and community sectors.
How you can be involved
We are keen to listen to your ideas about what is being done and what is needed.
- Get in contact if you have been involved in programs engaging young children in creative arts experiences to tell us about it.
- Complete our on-line survey by 23 September 2011 (note extended time) – go to http://kwiksurveys.com?u=creative_connections
- Join our database for more information.
Contact
Leigh Tesch, Project consultant
ltesch@optusnet.com.au
0419 104 961
The project's 2nd phase is supported by:
