Save the "Kids at the ARThouse" program at Orange Grove School

For 6 years, Kids at the ARThouse has run a successful art based after-school program once a week at Orange Grove School. Beloved by students and parents alike. But the program has been terminated for 2017 as the art room is being converted and the school says there is no room available for just 2hrs after school once a week. With after-care already already under stress, shouldn't we be trying to keep a well-run program and find a room to keep this great program going?

Studies on the importance of art education in our schools have shown that a dedicated art program can literally improve a child’s learning in reading and maths, cognitive ability, verbal skills and critical thinking. Nothing develops a child’s creativity and imagination more. Art classes encourage students to get tactile, messy and have fun exploring different mediums. It can improve a student’s self-esteem, encourage teamwork and help young people appreciate different cultures and values. Art literally connects us and gives us new ways of seeing… It is a true gift for our children.

But despite all of the above - arts education in our public schools have suffered greatly over the last ten years, the result of tight budgets and crammed school curriculums. Schools like Orange Grove have felt these pressures and have adapted to the challenges of this new era by opting for an arts program that alternates between art one year and music the next.

But for kids and parents who’ve craved more art classes and a dedicated teacher year in and year out, Orange Grove has been lucky enough to offer an after-care program once a week called Kids at the ARThouse run by art teacher, Sabina Carney.

For the last six years, it has offered not only an exciting, well-run arts program but it has also helped fill the crisis in lack of places in after-care programs – creating a cost-effective alternative one day a week to the main school program run by Helping Hands

The program has been extraordinarily successful. The kids in the program have been provided wonderful opportunities to explore their creativity but have also have been recognised in the broader community for their work. Under the Kids At The ARThouse program students have:

1. Exhibited their artwork exclusively at the Chinese Gardens, Darling Harbour for the last three years by invitation as part of the City of Sydney Chinese New Year celebrations.
2. Won several art prizes including the Avant Card art competition twice with students artwork printed on postcards and distributed around Australia.
3. Won and been runners-up in the Sydney Port Authorities Poster Competition.
4. Won the Sydney Port Authorities Photographic Competition.
5. Created “Friendship Cards” that included images and words that were shared with Indigenous students as part of an initiative of the Kids At The ARThouse and The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation.
6. Won the Children’s Book Council of Australia- Design a Poster Competition 2016.
7. Participated in the Young Archie's Art Competition.

But as of last week the program teacher was informed that Kids in the ARThouse would be terminated in 2017 because the one dedicated art room in the school is to be turned into a classroom and no other space will be made available to the program.

The students and parents have been devastated at the loss of such an invaluable and well-run resource for our children. One that we all genuinely hoped would continue and be expanded so many other students could benefit from it in the future.

The program runs for 2 HOURS on a Tuesday from 3pm until 5pm. The fact that the school cannot find ONE ROOM in the ENTIRE CAMPUS that could be made available to continue the arts program, WE PARENTS FIND BAFFLING.

If Orange Grove is not to have an art room from 2017 onwards then surely we could follow the lead of other schools who run the same program and use a regular classroom for two hours, cleaning away the art materials at the end of the session or perhaps utilise the pre-school, or another area in one of our many buildings.

This is a program we want in our school.

We respectfully ask that the acting principal Ms. Frederiksen reverse the school’s decision and come together to help find a solution to what is really a very simple problem. A space for 2hrs after school to continue what we believe is a program that enriches our students, gives options for quality after care and benefits our great school community.

Come on Orange Grove School – let’s show we care about art education and provide an example to our kids that we can find creative solutions if we are willing to try.

We respectfully request that the acting Principal reinstate the after school visual arts program Kids At The ARThouse at Orange Grove Public School in 2017 and work together with the community to find a space within the school for 2hrs after school once a week.