Art Matters

Region: Metro South and West Metropolitan North Regional North Metro | Maitland/Gosford/Penrith/Coffs Harbour/Moree/Hawkesbury
Years 5 to 10
Local arts program Visual arts
Back to Bush Studio
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Workshops that focus on developing knowledge, understanding and skills in the making of artworks and the exploration of a variety of media, techniques and tools.

Art Matters workshops provide opportunities for students in Years 5 to 10 to develop visual art making skills through participating in intensive workshops, encompassing:

  • Validation of the importance of visual arts, including as an intra and interpersonal expression
  • Understanding of subject matters explored in artmaking, especially art as a tool to communicate contemporary issues
  • Experimentation with a variety of artmaking substances.

Two-day workshops will be delivered in collaboration with artists and local/regional art galleries, utilising art education experts. Workshops may focus on painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, jewellery, ceramics, sculpture, textiles, mixed media, animation and digital media facilitated by professional artists and school teachers with specialised skills. 

Workshop venues 2025

  • Maitland Regional Art Gallery
  • Yarrila Arts and Museum, Coffs Harbour
  • Penrith Regional Art Gallery
  • Hawkesbury Regional Gallery
  • Gosford Regional Gallery
  • Moree Regional Gallery (details TBC)

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Enquiries

Heather Ross
Arts Coordination Officer
heather.l.williams@det.nsw.edu.au
0448 556 818
Sarah Armour
Arts Coordination Officer
Rural North
sarah.k.armour@det.nsw.edu.au
0429 965 197
Lily Ferres
Arts Coordination Officer
lily.ferres@det.nsw.edu.au
0419 446 357
Maitland Regional Art Gallery

230 High St
Maitland NSW 2320
Australia

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Gosford Regional Gallery

36 Webb St
East Gosford NSW 2250
Australia

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Penrith Regional Gallery

86 River Rd
Emu Plains NSW 2750
Australia

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Yarrila Arts and Museum

27 Gordon St
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
Australia

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Moree Regional Gallery

Heber St
Moree NSW 2400
Australia

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Hawkesbury Regional Gallery

Deerubbin Centre (top floor)
300 George St
Windsor NSW 2756
Australia

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Maitland Regional Art Gallery 2025

Years 5 and 6 workshops 

  • Mon 7 and Tues 8 April 2025 (Term 1 Week 11)
    • Day 1: 9 am – 3 pm
    • Day 2: 9 am – 5 pm. Parents and teachers are invited from 4 pm to view exhibition of student work.
  • Cost: $60 per student
  • Artist facilitator: TBC
  • Medium: TBC
  • Gallery exhibition: TBC

Years 7 to 10 workshops 

  • Mon 2 and Tues 3 June 2025 (Term 2 Week 6)
    • Day 1: 9 am – 3 pm
    • Day 2: 9 am – 5 pm. Parents and teachers are invited from 4 pm to view exhibition of student work.
  • Cost: $60 per student
  • Artist facilitator: TBC
  • Medium: TBC
  • Gallery exhibition: TBC
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Yarrila Arts and Museum, Coffs Harbour 2025

Years 7 and 8 workshops

  • Thursday 1 and Friday 2 May 2025 (Term 2 Week 1)
    • Day 1: 9 am – 3 pm
    • Day 2: 9 am – 5 pm. Parents and teachers are invited from 4 pm to view exhibition of student work.
  • Cost: $60 per student
  • Artist facilitator: TBC
  • Medium: TBC
  • Gallery exhibition: TBC
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Penrith Regional Art Gallery 2025

Years 5 and 6 workshops

  • Thursday 26 and Friday 27 June 2025 (Term 2 Week 9)
    • Day 1: 9 am – 3 pm
    • Day 2: 9 am – 4 pm. Parents, carers and teachers are invited from 3:30 pm to view exhibition of student work.
  • Cost: $60 per student
  • Artist facilitator: TBC
  • Medium: TBC
  • Gallery exhibition: Blak Douglas: The Halfway Line
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Hawkesbury Regional Gallery 2025

Years 9 and 10 workshops

  • Thursday 4 and Friday 5 September 2025 (Term 3 Week 7)
    • Day 1: 9 am – 3 pm
    • Day 2: 9 am – 4 pm. Parents, carers and teachers are invited from 3:30 pm to view exhibition of student work.
  • Cost: $60 per student
  • Artist facilitator: Freedom Wilson
  • Medium: Stencil making / silk screen printing
  • Gallery exhibition: Hawkesbury Now
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Gosford Regional Gallery 2025

Years 5 and 6 workshops

  • Tues 23 and Wed 24 September 2025 (Term 3 Week 10)
    • Day 1: 9 am – 3 pm
    • Day 2: 9 am – 5 pm. Parents and teachers are invited from 4 pm to view exhibition of student work.
  • Cost: $60 per student
  • Artist facilitator: TBC
  • Medium: TBC
  • Gallery exhibition : TBC

Years 7 and 8 workshops

  • Thurs 25 and Fri 26 September 2025 (Term 3 Week 10)
    • Day 1: 9 am – 3 pm
    • Day 2: 9 am – 5 pm. Parents and teachers are invited from 4 pm to view exhibition of student work.
  • Cost: $60 per student
  • Artist facilitator: TBC
  • Medium: TBC
  • Gallery exhibition: TBC
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Student registration

Registrations for 2025 open Thursday 1 February 2025

  • Student numbers are limited for each workshop.
  • Schools will be notified of your students registration in the program and attendance will be noted by the school.
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Payment

The two-day workshop cost of $60 per student is to be paid through The Arts Unit student payment portal prior to the workshop date. Within the payment portal please select the program 'Visual Arts' and then payment for 'Local Visual Arts' which will allow you to select the relevant Art Matters program.

Student fees will be collected directly by The Arts Unit from schools who elect to pay on behalf of their students. Please email program coordinator to arrange this.

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Photos – Art Matters 2024, Maitland

Venue: Maitland Regional Gallery

secondary artworks collage
Art Matters Maitland primary exhibition
students working on their artworks
primary artworks collage
Art Matters Maitland exhibition
Art Matters Maitland primary tour with Kate Rohde
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Photos – Art Matters 2023 Years 5 and 6, Gosford

Venue: Gosford Regional Gallery

Primary students tracing gesture shadows from overhead projector
Primary students working collaboratively to draw with ink on large scale paper
Primary students showing drawings to peers across the table
Primary students sticking down collage artworks with gluesticks
Parents and siblings viewing student exhibition
Primary students analysing artwork with artist educator
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Photos – Art Matters 2023 Years 7 and 8, Maitland

Venue: Maitland Regional Gallery

Artist educator and student stage soft sculpture for photo shoot
Student and parents gather with artist educator at exhibition
Secondary students and parents gathering for exhibition of student artworks
Students Acknowledging Country in front of woven artwork depicting eagle
Students using Posca pens to draw emoji icons on recycled cardboard
Students seated with visual arts teacher creating soft sculptural artworks from recycled materials
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Programs

Ryde and North Turramurra

Bush Studio

Visual arts
Years 3 to 11 students

Students in Years 3 to 11 are invited to participate in a suite of immersive visual arts programs at Field of Mars and Gibberagong Environmental Education Centres. Opportunities to observe, interpret and respond to their immediate environment will inform students’ artmaking
Newcastle/Lake Macquarie/Maitland/Port Stephens

Hunter Schools Art Collection

Visual arts
Kindergarten to Year 12

An annual collection of student artworks from Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and Port Stephens for exhibition at selected Department of Education local arts events in the Hunter.
Riverwood Downs

Hunter Creative Arts Camp

Dance Drama Music Visual arts
Year 5 and 6
Students expand their skills and experiences in the creative and performing arts.

All Arts Units programs are inclusive. If support is required to participate in Art Matters, please email heather.l.williams@det.nsw.edu.au so we can assist.