Flying Arts Alliance launches For Schools to transform arts education

Flying Arts Alliance is taking its pioneering approach to arts education into a new generation of Queensland classrooms with the launch of For Schools, an ambitious new digital program connecting primary students with leading artists, extraordinary places and the Australian Curriculum.

Fifty-five years after Flying Arts founder Mervyn Moriarty OAM learned to fly so he could take art classes to communities across regional and remote Queensland, Merv is taking to the skies again – this time in animated form.

The original ‘Flying Artist’ travelled more than 400,000 kilometres from the Outback to the Torres Strait, driven by a simple belief that no Queenslander should grow up without access to art.

Now, his playful digital incarnation is at the heart of For Schools, a new “press-play” teaching resource designed to make visual arts education accessible, engaging and achievable in primary classrooms.

Filmed across Townsville, the Scenic Rim and Torres Strait, the program takes students beyond the classroom and into the landscapes, communities and creative spaces that inspire Queensland artists.

Along the way, students learn from three practising Queensland visual artists: Townsville printmaker Ron McBurnie, artist Fiona Mosby from the Torres Strait, and Brisbane artist and surface pattern designer Georgina Forbes, aka Lordy Dordie.

Each artist-led experience is supported by curriculum-aligned educational materials created by artist-teacher Lee Fullarton, with professional development resources and workbooks giving teachers the tools to confidently deliver visual arts regardless of their own arts experience.

Flying Arts Alliance CEO Toni Palmer said For Schools was a contemporary expression of the same belief that inspired Moriarty to take Flying Arts into the air more than half a century ago: that geography should never determine a child’s access to creativity.

“ For Schools is a press-play solution that gives teachers everything they need to deliver the visual arts curriculum in an exciting and meaningful way. ”

“When children use For Schools, they’re not just learning about art, they’re going on an adventure across Queensland, discovering different places and learning directly from the artists who create there.

“We want to bring inspiration, excitement and joy into classrooms and give children an experience of art that stays with them.”

Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said Flying Arts has a celebrated history of supporting regional communities’ access to enriching arts experiences, a key priority of the Crisafulli Government’s 10-year arts and culture strategy, Queensland’s Time to Shine.

“ For Schools takes Flying Arts’ program delivery into a new era, using digital technology to connect primary school students and teachers with talented Queensland artists, extraordinary landscapes and diverse practices. ”

“We know that arts participation is a key contributor to children’s development and wellbeing, and the Government proudly supports Flying Arts to deliver programs that enhance young Queenslanders’ creativity no matter where they live in the state.

“It is also encouraging to see the strong support this program has already received from Queensland philanthropists, with Flying Arts already securing almost half of its fundraising target through philanthropic contributions.

“I encourage Queenslanders who share a passion for arts education and regional communities to join these donors in helping bring For Schools to even more students across the state.”

Queensland Art Teachers Association (QATA) President Rossina Moore said the program had the potential to change what was possible for primary school teachers and students, particularly in regional Queensland.

“ Queensland primary schools do not have specialist visual arts teachers as a matter of course, which means classroom teachers are often being asked to deliver arts education without specialist training or experience. ”

“For Schools puts artists, expertise and high-quality creative experiences directly into their hands, giving teachers the confidence and resources to bring the visual arts curriculum to life.

“For a child in regional Queensland, their classroom can suddenly connect them with practising artists and creative communities from Townsville to the Torres Strait.

“It’s a pioneering approach with the potential to make high-quality visual arts education available to many more Queensland children, regardless of where they live.”

Townsville artist and For Schools educator Ron McBurnie said giving children access to practising artists during their primary years could have an impact far beyond the classroom.

“ Creativity starts young, and if we want the next generation of Queensland artists and creative thinkers, we need to give children the opportunity to discover what they can do. ”

“That spark can stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

For Schools provides achievement standards for visual arts at each year level alongside artist-led lessons, interactive learning materials, workbooks and professional development resources for teachers.

Annual subscriptions are $1,000 per school, with bursaries and discounts available for smaller schools.

As part of the launch, Flying Arts is also inviting Queenslanders to support its 121 Campaign (pronounced “one-two-one”), which aims to fund For Schools access for 121 regional, rural and remote primary schools, helping ensure a child’s postcode or their school’s capacity to pay does not limit access to an inspiring arts education. We encourage people to nominate their schools or perhaps a school they are passionate about supporting.

Schools can find out more and register their interest at flyingarts.org.au.