Partnering Up with Perth Fest
We love being able to enrich young lives!
Each year we partner up with a select number of schools to provide access to the arts in a way the school/community group may not have been able to experience.
Why have Partner Schools?
We acknowledge that many students miss out on effective arts education due to inequity of access and inadequate resourcing, so our Partner Schools program provides students with opportunities to watch, connect and learn from the world’s leading visionary artists.
We also see wonderful value in making space for discussion, collaboration, conversation and learning with international, national and local performers and practitioners.
By participating in these activities that are designed they build agency, self-efficacy and critical thinking all of which are vital life skills.
We provide
- Access to a tailored program of performances, workshops and professional development, free of charge
- This can include direct contact with artists & behind the scenes experiences
- All transport costs to and from events covered
- Opportunity to give feedback on the program to make sure it remains relevant and dynamic for students
Noongar language workshop at Edmund Rice Centre WA
The Perth Festival School Partnership Program provided fantastic opportunities for students from low socio-economic areas and disadvantaged backgrounds in our school area to experience the arts and learn more about culture. For many of our students it was the first time they had ever been to an outdoor movie or to a theatre and they were absolutely delighted and grateful. The learning they gained from these experiences really added to their ability to interpret literature and to think more deeply about the topics portrayed. The play and documentary prompted further thought and discussion about topics for weeks after we went.
By far, in my experience this was the most engaged I have seen them in any educational activity and I now whole-heartedly believe that access to the arts and these types of experiences are well needed tools to engage high school students in education. Such a fantastic opportunity with really great outcomes. We are very grateful to you all.
I can honestly say I think it was an experience they will remember for a very long time.
Fiona, Girls Academy, Girrawheen Senior High School
Hecate Noongar Language Workshop with Edmund Rice Centre WA
Partner Schools and Indigenous Engagement
Our 2020 Partner Schools program was filled with entirely Indigenous engagement activities. 370 students and 50 teachers from 6 metropolitan high schools were engaged through the Partner Schools program of entirely First Nations performances, workshops and professional development opportunities.
These schools have a lower than average Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage and have a higher population of Indigenous students. Aboriginal-specific programs that run at these schools meant we could connect with Indigenous students more closely and engage First Nations work with young, First Nations people!
Some of these programs are Girls Academy, Clontarf Foundation and Moorditj Koolangka (Edmund Rice Centre) WA.
We will continue to embed First Nations work and stories in the Partner Schools programs to continue this connection.
Want to know other ways we provide meaningful engagement with our community? Check out our Connect program!
Banner image: Idols workshop with 2019 Perth Festival artist Ramesh Nithiyendran at Dianella Secondary College