Classroom collaborations: Art and the Tasmanian primary school

The Classroom collaborations: Art and Tasmanian primary school project explores a need identified within national research and by the Tasmanian Art Teachers Association (TATA) to better support primary teachers to enact The Australian Curriculum: The Arts. Within this project, Tasmanian primary teachers and their students were mentored by a specialist art teacher to undertake an art inquiry for a professionally curated exhibition, Entangled, which showed in the Academy Gallery from the 22nd August - 23rd September, 2017. The exhibited art inquiries showcased explorations of community based topics and issues of concern undertaken in alignment with existing primary school learning programs. Ensuing formative and summative evaluations of the mentors’ and teachers’ experiences are enabling the researchers to identify specific challenges Tasmanian primary teachers encounter and navigate in enacting curriculum change, and articulate the implications these challenges pose for pedagogical transformation and student learning in visual art. The artworks shown in Entangled form part of a broader suite of outcomes from the Classroom collaborations: Art and Tasmanian primary school pilot project, which was made possible through a University of Tasmanian Teaching Development Grant, and is elucidating how primary teachers are enacting curriculum change and delivering authentic visual art learning experiences in Tasmania. Entangled was presented as part of the Academy Gallery Active Research Program. The Academy Gallery Active Research Program aims to exhibit the research undertaken by the University of Tasmania as a global educational provider. Entangled was presented by the Academy Gallery as part of the Junior Academy Program in partnership with the Tasmanian Art Teaches Association and with the endorsement of Art Education Australia (AEA). Visit the Entangled exhibition at the TATA online gallery https://tata.org.au/entangled-art-tasmanian-primaryschool/ Further teaching and learning materials developed in relation to the Entangled exhibition are available for members of the Tasmanian Art Teachers Association (TATA). To become a member of TATA, please visit https://tata.org.au/membership/ for details.