Perth Festival Partnership

 

New school partnership to boost arts industry of the future

 

An exciting new Creative Pathways partnership between Perth Festival and Mount Lawley Senior High School will create new avenues for students to access and prepare for rich careers in the local, national and international arts sector.

 

This innovative collaboration will create opportunities for internships, training, behind the scenes access and greater connection with artists and working professionals in Western Australia and beyond.

 

Louisa Norman, Engagement Manager at Perth Festival, commented: "We are deeply committed to finding ways to connect with aspiring arts students and young people in Western Australia. I know firsthand the positive impact that the arts can have when embedded in the lives of young people.

 

"What is most exciting about this new partnership is that the focus is vocational and will create very real learning opportunities and work experience for our most engaged young people. I can't wait to see the Year 7 students of today as future stage managers, actors, directors or lighting designers in a future Perth Festival show."

 

Moya Thomas, Specialist Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator at Mount Lawley Senior High School said: "We are so excited to build on our growing reputation as a leading arts school that creates industry-ready students. Our students from Year 7 to Year 12 already have a deep connection to the arts here in WA, and over time a number of them go on to study at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). We believe that this new partnership will help those students find an inspiring career that works for them while also building the important practical skills they need to join the  arts and culture economy."

 

At Mount Lawley Senior High School, aspiring Year 6 students can apply to join the innovative Specialist Visual and Performing Arts (SVAPA) program. A unique three-year course led by specialist teachers, providing immersion and extension in the Arts, with a focus on connections within a range of arts disciplines.

 

The partnership will extend into senior school years, with many SVAPA students completing a Certificate II in Creative Industries in Years 11 and 12. This provides students with a well-rounded arts education and a clear pipeline into the industry, equipping them for the next steps in their arts careers.

 

Alumni from the SVAPA program include Alex Williams, Kevin Penkin, Dacre Montgomery, Asher Yasbinek, Shannon Berry, Grace Sanders, and Keir Wilkins.

 

First activities as a part of the new Creative Pathways partnership will be rolled out for Perth Festival 2025, which launches its full program on Wednesday 6 November 2024.