Background Image

11 and Beyond

What

11 and Beyond was an Artist in Residence project between textile artist, Bec Anderson, the community and students at Tamborine Mountain State School. The project focused on the role of Year 6 students as leaders in their last year of primary school and transition to Year 7 in high school.

The Year 6 students worked with Bec on a fibre project that saw the students exploring their past, current and future selves through movement and music activities.  These experiences informed the development designs for their projects. Skills were developed in punch needle rug making using hand dyed wools and their finished art works were exhibited locally.

Risk taking and trial were actively encouraged with students rising to the challenge. The cross-curricular aspect of the project created real life experiences for students including the use of maths in design and the creation of an online blog to document the project’s progress.

Interest and excitement in the project resulted in activities being extended to include the Prep to Year 3 students and children from local childcare as well as the entire student population during the schools Anzac Day activities.

Involvement of community art groups included The Local Men’s Shed and the Happy Hookers enhancing the experience for students and highlighting how community groups and volunteers can support everyday practices in the school and introduce a multi-generational dimension to enrich the experience.

When

January to April 2015

Photo of school student working on punch needle rug project

Tamborine Mountain State School student. Photo: Sophie Baker

Where

Tamborine Mountain State School, North Tamborine

Key stats

  • 500 students and 2 educators
  • 3 Queensland artists
  • 25 volunteers

Arts Queensland contribution

$20 000 – Artist in Residence Fund

Outcomes

  • Students developed new skills and gained confidence in a variety of art forms – dance, drama, visual art and media.

I think the whole project was absolutely brilliant. But if I had to choose what the best bit was, I would definitely choose the sewing. The whole thing was so enjoyable.

It was a great thing to learn about how to punch needle and I finished my art piece.

  • The artist gained valuable experience and confidence in working across multiple year levels in an educational setting.
  • The project promoted and highlighted how the school can engage with community members in their everyday teaching practice. While the school has a large number of volunteers, the project introduced new volunteers to the school who had specialist creative skills sets.
Photo of students with their artwork from the project

Students at Tamborine Mountain State School. Photo: Sophie Baker

Learnings and reflections

The Artist in Residence was successful with the project extending from a Year 6 project to integration across the school.

The project has highlighted the benefit of including the community in the curriculum. Tamborine Mountain State School staff reflected:

There are many personnel in our local community that, as a school, we should be utilizing to enrich our curriculum. Tamborine Mountain is well known for it’s artistic culture and our Artist in Residence developed a program that highlighted not only her own expertise, but the expertise of others. Bec Andersen brought a new dimension to the Arts curriculum in our school and gave students an opportunity to be involved in a unique experience. She also engaged multiple community groups and fellow artists which was a positive experience.

By participating in this project, it has highlighted one way that our school can engage other people to support our everyday practices.

In the future the school will look to widen community engagement to enrich the arts curriculum.

Contact for further information

Rebecca Baillie
Email: rbail45@eq.edu.au
Phone: 07 5545 5333

A printable version of the case study is available.

Feature image: Punch needle rug making. Tamborine Mountain State School. Photo: Sophie Baker