How

Structure for Sessions

Free Art:

• Have the time to do whatever they want with resources.
• Experiment with different visual art mediums
• Bring in own art works from home to create during the session (can use the available resources)

Lessons

• Learning about different art techniques; artists; kinds of art
• Bring in speciality guests, artists, students who can share their experiences and knowledge
• They could also give lessons

Possible Visual Art Experiences

Painting	Sculpting	Puppetry
Collage	Print Making	Stamping
Drawing	Flax Weaving	Wood Carving

 Resources 

Paper (colours, sizes, kinds)	Fabric	Carving tools	Mats/ Plastic sheets for tables
Glue	Clay	Flax (weaving)	Aprons
Pens	Wood	Popsicle sticks	Glitter
Pencils	Dye	Brushes (various sizes)	Stamps
Crayons	Sponges	Paints (various types)	Pastels

Note: Resources we could have could be alternated for each session e.g. painting for one, wood carving for another

Funding

• Gold coin donations
• Money donations in general
• Proposal to Auckland Council, Government, Organisations
• Resource donations from Art suppliers, Warehouse Stationary, The Warehouse, families who attend sessions, schools, business
• Fundraisers – art auctions of the children’s art work, etc.

Advertising

• Fliers and website aimed for parents
• Community Boards e.g. Library, Dairies
• Local early childhood centres – community centres/ crèches
• Local schools – primary, intermediate, secondary
• Local newsletters and newspapers; school and community
• Churches and playgroups (Plunket, Community Playgroups)
• Word of mouth

Who

These programmes could be set up by us first perhaps starting in one community centre. Our role would be:

• Providing resources

• Supervision – two people at least

• Facilitating if needed

• Have a structured experience if we may need it

Families and Parents

As this programme is community and family orientated the children’s families and parents can be actively involved if they want.

We would recommend parents staying if their child is under five to support their child and their learning

Perhaps if they had a great interest in the programme they could volunteer and share their own ideas and interests

Students

Advertising for student volunteers 15 years and older

To share their interest in the visual arts

Benefits of work experience on CV and references for future employment

Can create connections and relationships with other students, children and adults (possibly mentors, big brother or sister)

Where

WHERE

We propose starting these programmes in community centres in Central Auckland close to the city, for example the community centres of:

• St Lukes
• Epsom
• Gelndowie
• Meadowbank
• Point Chevalier
• Ponsonby

Reasons

• Near the city centre/ surrounding central Auckland
• Easy access for all families’ there is public transport of trains, buses, ferries
• There are also more child focused art programmes already set up near these areas
• The community centres have rooms for hire
• We chose community centres because they have resources already available  such as tables, chairs, rooms/ halls, toilet facilities
• Starting point for creating an awareness of the programme to eventually develop these in other parts of Auckland

When

WHEN

We would most likely have a weekly program for early childhood aged children on weekday mornings as well as a weekend session welcome to everyone. There could also be possibility for:

• More sessions  during school holidays for example higher capacity of children to attend
• Include the art program into holiday programme held at the community centre
• Linking the art program with the community crèche if there is one

What

We were inspired by the Picasso Kidz program that we found in Orakei Community Centre. If we were to make our own creative learning centre we would have something similar to Picasso Kidz as to us it seemed fun filled, well organised and something children and their families would enjoy going to on a weekly basis in their community. This programme also seemed to encourage community interaction as there was a ‘play, chat and coffee’ available after each session.

We propose creating a visual arts programme which is held on a weekly basis in the community centres around Auckland and would be for children and their families. Our project is not about making a unique art programme that is vastly different from others that are out there. We want a programme and a place for children to be creative and have fun with art. The programme would have some structure but also free for the children to do any art if they please. We want to promote both free expression and the learning about the background and techniques of art for example artists, brush strokes, blending of colour, eras of art.

We want to focus on visual arts because we noticed through our research of community centres that there were not many early childhood aged art programmes and art programmes for children in general.  We want to create a community programme to get more community involvement; to strengthen community ties and to discover and celebrate the diversity that is within communities.