2 minute read
Creative Insight
Gallery Coordinator Kattie Bugeja shares an insight into school visits to MRAG and the Gallery’s approach to creative learning.
Do you have fond memories of visiting your local Gallery on a school excursion? Perhaps you were lucky enough to travel to a state capital and recall wandering through the hallowed halls of a Gallery such as Art Gallery of New South Wales, whilst your teacher shushed and ushered your group to follow your tour guide.
School visits are integral to Maitland Regional Art Gallery’s art education offering; currently over 2,000 students visit each year and we are keen to welcome many more. Last year we were thrilled that many students from Maitland Grossman High School came to see former student Nell’s newlyinstalled artwork on the exterior of the MRAG building; and that more than 400 students from Telarah Public School, one of the 7 schools that participated in our Stories from Wonnarua Country exhibition, came to explore the exhibition.
Student visit led by Aboriginal Elders to Baiame Cave, which contains Wonnarua rock paintings, on 30 July 2019, for the Stories from Wonnarua Country project.
Educators can either bring their students to MRAG (at no cost) for a self-guided group tour, or, for a modest fee (currently $7.50 per student), we can arrange for an experienced Art Tutor to develop and present a bespoke activity. Education visits are not limited to primary and secondary students; we love to tailor tours and workshops for preschool-age children and to work with tertiary educators and independent groups on special projects.
Our focus for school visits is to provide a participatory model of learning that champions active engagement through knowledge sharing and making.
Our Learning and Audience Development team works closely with talented Art Tutors to design and deliver diverse and accessible education experiences that complement and extend the Gallery’s exhibition program. Our ‘2020 Learn’ program for Terms 1 and 2 highlights many opportunities for students to explore an exciting range of artistic approaches, use of materials, styles and concepts, through investigating and responding to exhibitions such as Masters & Apprentices and Learning from Country.
At MRAG we pride ourselves on being a valuable resource for local educators. Art is for everyone and we aim to stimulate, engage and inspire as many curious minds as possible.
Head to mrag.org.au/learn for more information.
MRAG Art Tutor Vanessa Turton.
About an Art Tutor
Vanessa Turton is one of MRAG’s wonderful Art Tutors, with qualifications in secondary education, fine arts, drama, English, ticket writing and graphic design. Vanessa has been employed at MRAG for the past ten years as an Art Tutor, Drama Facilitator and Gallery Officer and maintains an art practice as an exhibiting painter/sculptor. She sees art engagement (whether in a Gallery setting or a laneway!) as a positive life-affirming and creative learning experience that people of all ages should be able to access and enjoy.
