Artist in residence (AiR)
The Facilitation Team (Lisa Paris/SoE and Mark Parfitt/MCASI) have annually promoted the program, recruited artists and schools (Covid permitting), provided training and support, and celebrated the achievements of participants.
The Curtin AiR program has operated at Curtin via the School of Education since 2016 and annually places student artists from MCASI and SoE in WA primary schools in Term 3 of the school year to work on a special art project. Most are within visual arts, but there have been some projects in media and also drama disciplines.
The projects have a duration of around 30-40 hours, are collaboratively designed and executed with the students and their Generalist Teacher, and are beyond the scope of the standard curriculum.
An increasing number are in remote/rural settings in partnership projects involving Curtin AiRs, Indigenous Elders and high Indigenous student numbers. To date there have been more than 55 placements involving 1100 children working on Arts projects ranging from Murals, to Ceramic Sculpture Gardens, Glasswork, Claymation/Animation, Drama Productions and more.
“Behind the Curtin” Podcast
The Podcast reveals benefits experienced by this year’s Curtin artists, host teachers and children as Program Coordinators Lisa Paris and Mark Parfit reflect on the journey thus far and the pathway ahead.
2023 Remote Rural Artist in Residence Projects
Avonvale Primary Mural Project 17-22nd July 2023
Generalist Teacher Lea and MCASI Artists Remy and Grace worked with a range of children at Avonvale Primary in Northam to produce a stunning mural depicting the beautiful Avon River and surrounding bushland.
Host Teacher Lea observed: Many of our learners from years 2 to 6 had the opportunity to meet the artists and to help with the design process and the painting. The mural has brightened the school beautifully and helped unite our community.
The aim of the project was to create a landscape mural that celebrates the local flora and fauna as well as the community within the school. Depicting the Avon river and the lush greenery found along its bank as the background to the mural.
Paraburdoo Primary Mural Project 17-22nd July 2023
Host Teacher Principal Caragh and MCASI Artists Taylor and Ross devised a project inspired by the local flora and fauna of significance to the Paraburdoo Primary community.
Host Caragh observed: My own teaching career was kickstarted by an AiR placement, so I was thrilled to facilitate a similar experience for students at the school that I lead. I appreciated how our Artists, Ross and Taylor considered the local community and environment in each stage of the project and then prioritised our students’ authentic contribution to the artwork. The community response to the artwork has been wonderful, particularly watching children bring their parents in to show them where they added their own little design to the mural.
Paraburdoo Primary School from year groups 4 to 6 created a mural based on the local community and biodiversity of the surrounding area. The project was a hands-on interactive visual art experience that encouraged the children to express their own ideas about what their life in Paraburdoo is like.
The focus was on a range of animals and flowers chosen by each class as their totem. For example, willy wag tail, magpie, crow, emu and eagle with flowers chosen from those found locally. The indigenous flag colours were used to express the school’s close connection to First Nations Culture and every child’s handprint conveys their experience of participating in the creation of the mural with pride in their accomplishment.
The 2023 Curtin Artist in Residence program encompasses two remote/rural residencies and 5 Perth placements.
Each Perth placement has a duration of 40 hours distributed over 6 weeks; whereas the remote placements were around 80 hours with two AiRs resident in the school over a whole week.
Placements in Development for 2023 are:
| 2023 AiR Placements in Train | Location | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Avonvale Primary | Northam (Rural Location) | Visual Arts – Wall mural |
| Belmont City College | Perth metropolitan | Visual Arts - TBC |
| Bull Creek Primary | Perth metropolitan | Visual Arts – Shipping container mural |
| Forrestfield Primary | Perth metropolitan | Media Arts – Animation |
| North Cottesloe Primary | Perth metropolitan | Visual Arts - TBC |
| Paraburdoo Primary | Paraburdoo (Remote Location) | Visual Arts - Indigenous collaboration mural |
| South Lake Primary | Perth metropolitan | Visual Arts project |
| Success Primary | Perth metropolitan | Media Arts project |
Past Participants are:
| Alkimos Primary (2016) | Hammond Park Primary (2018) | North Kalgoorlie Primary (2017) |
| Atwell College (2018) | Highgate Primary (2016) | North Parmelia Primary (2016) |
| Australind Primary (2017) | Holy Cross College (2017) | Perth College (2021) |
| Balcatta Primary (2016) | Jandakot Primary (2016) | School of Isolated and Distance Education (2018) |
| Beckenham Primary (2016; 2018) | Kensington Primary (2021) | South Lake Primary (2021) |
| Beeliar Primary (2016; 2017; 2018) | Kolbe Catholic College (2017) | St Gerard’s Catholic (2017) |
| Brentwood Primary School(2019) | Lakelands Primary (2016; 2018) | St Luke’s Catholic Primary (2016) |
| Camboon Primary School (2017) | Living Waters Lutheran (2017) | St Maria Goretti Primary (2017) |
| CanningVale Pri (2016; 2017; 2018) | Manning Primary (2018) | St Stephen’s (2018) |
| Currumbine Senior High (2016) | Merredin College (2017) | Subiaco Primary (2018) |
| Dalmain Primary (2016; 2018) | Mt Lawley Primary (2018) | Tuart Hill Pri (2016; 2017; 2018) |
| Eden Hill Primary School (2017) | Mt Lawley Senior High (2016; 2017) | Victoria Park Primary (2017) |
| Eddystone Primary (2016; 2018) | Mullewa District High (2017) | Woodvale Primary School (2016) |
| Guildford Grammar (2016) | Nth Cottesloe Primary (2016; 2018) |