The arts and cultural opportunities available to local children and young people and the positive impact creative learning can have on their development will be explored when the Western Australian Museum – Albany co-hosts a new initiative of the Commissioner for Children and Young People Michelle Scott.
The Commissioner’s 2011 Thinker in Residence: Unlocking Creativity will examine how successfully Western Australia is using creative activity in and out of school to make a positive difference to the lives of children and young people and to the wider community.
Internationally-renowned chief executive of the UK-based organisation Creativity, Culture and Education, Paul Collard, is the inaugural Thinker in Residence and will spend a full day in Albany on 10 November as part of his two week residency.
Paul has 25 years experience working in the arts and is an expert in delivering programs that use creativity and culture as drivers of social and economic change.
The Commissioner said Paul’s visit to Albany was an important part of the residency and would enable him to hear directly from regional practitioners involved in culture and the arts and education, as well as from local children and young people.
“His work in Albany will allow him to explore the residency’s topics of enquiry within a regional context and will be an important contribution to his final report on the overall residency,” she said.
The residency’s topics of enquiry are:
Developing creativity: how are culture and the arts being used across the education curriculum and what potential do arts and culture education programs have in improving the wellbeing of children and young people?
Growing creative industries: how well are the arts, culture and education systems raising awareness among children and young people of the creative industries and looking at opportunities for them to work in this area?
Preparing for the world: to what extent are cultural opportunities being offered to children and young people to support and enable them to build relationships and work with different countries, including those in the Asia-Pacific region?
WA Museum chief executive officer Alec Coles said the Museum was delighted to be partnering with the Commissioner for Children and Young People in this innovative program.
“Paul Collard is a former colleague and a respected expert in developing creative and educational programs in the UK. We are delighted he will be working with the WA Museum, local teachers and importantly children from the Great Southern and Central Desert regions to inform public policy for young people,” he said.
While in Albany, Paul will facilitate workshops with students from 15 local and two remote schools; meet with Indigenous and migrant community members; facilitate a cross-sector conversation; and deliver a free public lecture.
The keynote lecture will take place from 5.30pm – 6.30pm on Thursday 10 November at the WA Museum – Albany in the Eclipse Building. Bookings for the lecture can be made through the Museum by calling 9841 4844.
The 2011 Thinker in Residence initiative is supported by Rio Tinto, Department of Culture and the Arts, Department of Education, WA Museum, City of Perth, Perth International Arts Festival and The University of Western Australia.
Unlocking Creativity runs from 7 to 18 November. It is the first in a series of residencies in which the Commissioner will invite internationally renowned experts to WA to explore important public policy issues that affect the wellbeing of children and young people.
What: 2011 Thinker in Residence: Unlocking Creativity Public keynote lecture
When: 5.30pm, Thursday 10 November 2011
Where: WA Museum – Albany, Eclipse Building, Residency Road, Albany
Cost: Free
Bookings: 9841 4844
Pip Strempel
Commissioner for Children and Young People
T: 6213 2217
M: 0434 327 803
pip.strempel@ccyp.wa.gov.au
Rachael Wilsher-Saa
Western Australian Museum – Albany
T: 9841 4844
rachael.wilsher-saa@museum.wa.gov.au
Renae Woodhams
Western Australian Museum
T: 9212 3843
M: 0435 342 247
renae.woodhams@museum.wa.gov.au
