Artkids

Young girl playing with play-doh

ARTKIDS was an exciting and creative partnership project between Penrith City Council’s Children’s Services and Community and Cultural Development Departments.

As part of implementing the curriculum goals within the Early Years Learning Framework, staff in several children’s centres identified that providing opportunities for children to explore their creativity would contribute to their cognitive development and artistic literacy.

Through our joint discussions we explored the possibilities that art can offer children and pooled resources to employ two local professional artists to take the children on this journey of creating and exploring art. The project took place over eight weeks during August and September 2011 and involved workshops with children aged three to five years in four Council centres - Cook Parade, Gumbirra, Koala Corner and St Marys Children’s Centre, as well as North St Marys Community Preschool.

A variety of art media were explored from clay work to painting, wool sculpture, drawing and print making. Each child had the opportunity to make art pieces and in some instances take those pieces through a two stage process. For example many children were surprised that the clay became hard when it dried and enjoyed painting their creations to add colour to what they had made.

The artists encouraged the children to explore their creativity through different media.The children enjoyed the fun in this project and surprised us all with their enthusiasm, joy and willingness to explore new media in their creative expression. Many children looked forward to their mornings with the artists Chris Edwards and Fabri Blacklock, and David Cloran the photographer and the wonderful conversations about the art they created, highlighting the success of ARTKIDS.

The ARTKIDS project demonstrates to us that children can produce art that is real and has meaning for them. They are capable of great creativity and we hope to continue to inspire children in Penrith City to produce wonderful art for all to enjoy. The many works produced by the children were exhibited at St Marys Corner Community and Cultural Precinct, in individual children’s centres and at Penrith Library.

Project updates

Art Tech Kids 2015

27 November 2015

Back to Artkids Project

A festival of short animated movies created by preschool children and artist Andrew Wagstaffe.

 National Simultaneous Storytime

21 May 2015

Back to Artkids Project

Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country.

Kodomono Hi - Japanese Children's Day

30 April 2013

Back to Artkids Project

In April 2013 the children and families from across Penrith have been invited by the local Japanese community to celebrate Kodomono Hi - Japanese Children’s Day.

 Penrith City Library Children’s Holiday Activities 2013

30 August 2012

Back to Artkids Project

Throughout 2013 Kids at the Corner hosted great children's programs from Penrith City Library.

Exploring new ways

07 March 2012

Back to Artkids Project
Young girl playing with play-doh

ARTKIDS was an exciting and creative partnership project between Penrith City Council’s Children’s Services and Community and Cultural Development Departments.

Hey! I made a

07 March 2012

Back to Artkids Project
Young girl playing with play-doh

Children’s joyful expression bubbling through this documentation is quite powerful.

WestWords at St Marys Corner

30 December 2011

Back to Artkids Project

WestWords engages children and young people in Greater Western Sydney by encouraging an appreciation of story and storymaking in a variety of forms.

Why Art for kids?

22 September 2011

Back to Artkids Project

Artkids was an imaginative and inspired approach to enriching children’s learning and indeed their lives.

Children Creating and Exploring Arts

14 September 2011

Back to Artkids Project

Artkids - Children Creating and Exploring Arts project is one of the most exciting projects Wirriimbi Designs has worked on.

The Artkids Story

09 September 2011

Back to Artkids Project

The ARTKIDS was an exciting and creative partnership project between Penrith City Council’s Children’s Services and Community and Cultural Development Departments.*