Visual Arts

Age Appropriate Learning

Beaconhills College regards the Visual Arts as an essential learning area for students at all year levels. The Visual Arts Department delivers a stimulating and challenging programme to students from Preparatory to Year 12. Our extension programmes guarantee that students are challenged and motivated to achieve their best in all areas within this department.

The Visual Arts programme offers all students the opportunity to explore different media and styles while they are encouraged to express their own opinions and attitudes through a number of subjects and disciplines within this area. Creative, original responses are encouraged at all year levels and the levels of risk taken by students particularly at Senior level is seen as a priority by staff.

From Preparatory to Year 4, students participate in an art programme that is based in specialist art rooms. Here students are introduced to many materials and techniques; they are given the opportunity to explore and discover the world through art. Student creativity and unique approaches to topics are seen as the priority in this area.

In Years 5 to 8, students are introduced to a range of techniques, materials and styles. At this level art broadens into a number of subject areas covering both 2D and 3D work. The priority is still each student’s unique approach to topics set but at the same time, students are expected to undertake research on various topics and to experience a range of materials and media. In addition to this, students are involved in theory classes and class discussions relating to art and artists.

In Years 10, 11 and 12, students are offered a broad range of subject choices and are expected to start to specialise in areas of interest. By this level, many students have made a career choice and the subject choices within the Visual Arts become critical. While Year 10 is seen as an exploration of the breadth of the offering within this area, Years 11 and 12 are the time for students to specialise and build the all-important folio for university entrance.

In Senior years many students are career focussed and as a result many extension programmes are offered to assist the development of skills and experience.

Personal Best

The Visual Arts Department focuses on delivering a dynamic and challenging programme to all students from Preparatory to Year 12. While student differences are recognised and catered for, all students are expected to achieve their very best in all areas. Our staff are very talented and enthusiastic professionals who practise their own artwork as well as teaching with passion and commitment in this area.

Community

Many opportunities are available for students to further develop their skills and experiences within this field. These include:

• An Artist in Residence within the College.
• An international art tour for students in Years 10, 11 and 12.
• Attendance at Annual AG Ideas Conference in Melbourne for students in Years 11 and 12.
• Workshops throughout the year in a number of areas across the department.
• Guest speakers are invited to talk to students across the department about their work and experiences.
• A Senior Art camp

In addition to these timetabled activities, Middle and Senior students are encouraged to involve themselves in a variety of extra-curricular activities held after hours most nights of the week. These activities include Life Drawing (Senior students only), jewellery making, fashion design and photography.

Middle and Senior students may use the Art facilities at lunchtimes as well as before and after school to work on their folios.