Connections Program
2022 Connections Program Digital Showcase theme is ‘Ours To Share’.
Applications for the 2022 Connections Program Showcase open on 3 December 2021 and close on 17 August 2022.
The outstanding works for the Connections Showcase 2021 are out now!
About the Connections Program
The Connections Program offers an exciting suite of arts opportunities and digital resources for students with disability and their teachers.
Throughout the year we will be providing professional learning for teachers as well as performance and showcase opportunities for schools, classes and individual students. These experiences will support and develop teachers and students ranging from the experienced and inexperienced in the areas of music, dance, visual arts and drama.
Throughout the program we will be partnering with the Art Gallery of NSW and other leading arts organisations and education specialists to provide inclusive teaching and learning experiences in the arts.
If you would like to find out more about the Connections Program, register your interest on The Arts Unit Website.
We hope to see you play a part in this exciting inclusive arts initiative.
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Contacts
Program Coordinators
Catherine Gilholme
Arts Initiatives and Events Officer
catherine.gilholme@det.nsw.edu.au
Sonja Sjolander
Arts Initiatives Advisor
sonja.benson@det.nsw.edu.au
Marianne Powles
Arts Planning and Strategy Coordinator
marianne.powles@det.nsw.edu.au
Heidi Windeisen
Connections Program Visual Arts Coordinator
heidi.windeisen@det.nsw.edu.au
Shining Stars Organiser
Michelle Davies
Principal, Chalmers Road Public School
michelle.m.davies@det.nsw.edu.au
Art Gallery of NSW
Danielle Gullotta
Senior Access Programs Producer
danielle.gullotta @ag.nsw.gov.au
What’s new
Creative Teachers
Creative Teachers resources provide online, practical professional learning incorporating video, text, support documents and links to help you deliver high-quality arts experiences for students. Learn from scratch or improve your skills in the artistic, technical and practical aspects of running ensembles, staging and capturing performances and help students to participate in the arts. These resources are like having an experienced mentor teacher available whenever you need one!
Visual Arts
The Art Gallery of NSW has put together a fantastic Art Set of works to inspire student responses for the theme ‘Found Objects’.
The Art Gallery will supply an Art Set around the 2022 theme for you and your students to view and respond creatively.
We thank the Art Gallery of NSW for their ongoing support for this program.
Drama
Looking for drama resources to create an inclusive classroom?
'Drama for inclusivity' is a digital resource that is a must see for any teacher looking to create a truly inclusive classroom. These simple and beneficial strategies look at ways to enhance learning for all students and build a safer environment for inclusivity.
Inclusive Creative Arts digital teaching resources
Are you looking for some fun and accessible creative arts lessons for students with a range of disability in your classroom? Well look no further, we have you covered. The following Art Bites and Creative Classes developed by The Arts Unit are perfect for teachers and carers to give wonderful creative learning opportunities for students from all age ranges and abilities. We are adding to these resources all the time so save this link and watch this space.
We would love to see any student work produced, filmed or photographed, and you can send it through to artsinitiatives@det.nsw.edu.au with your name, your student’s name and school.
If you have any suggestions for other classes or topics to be developed you can also drop us a line at artsinitiatives@det.nsw.edu.au.
Art Bites
Drama games K-2 – movement and mime
Drama games K-2 – movement and mime
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Drama games K-2 – movement and mime
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Drama games K-2 – movement and mime
Join Charlotte Connor to have fun with these drama games! The purpose of these games is to focus on mime and gestures, using both imagination and body language to create characters and action.
Making mini paper puppets
Making mini paper puppets
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Making mini paper puppets
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Making mini paper puppets
How to make a mini paper puppet and 'breathe' life into it by adding movement.
Operation Art – 1. Junkyard robots
Operation Art
Junkyard robots
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Junkyard robots
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Junkyard robots
Join Heidi Windeisen as she guides you through the process of making your very own junkyard robot!
Operation Art – 2. The King Sun
Operation Art
The King Sun
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The King Sun
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The King Sun
This is a mixed media artwork for lower primary based on John Olsen’s artwork titled The King Sun. Children will create their own King Sun using food colouring, acrylic paint and oil pastels or crayons.
Operation Art – 3. Rainbow leaves
Operation Art
Rainbow leaves
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Rainbow leaves
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Rainbow leaves
Students will learn about tint and shade scales, mixing paint to create an interesting artwork with leaves they have collected.
Operation Art – 4. From the inside out
Operation Art
From the inside out
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From the inside out
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From the inside out
Never before have we spent so much time inside our homes staring out! A great way to document all of your recent experiences and feelings is through painting! So grab your paintbrush, and let's take a look outside your window!
Portrait painting - 1. Start with a sketch
Portrait painting
Start with a sketch
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Start with a sketch
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Start with a sketch
Digby and Neil explore how they start their portrait paintings by sketching.
Portrait painting - 2. Making the painting
Portrait painting
Making the painting
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Making the painting
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Making the painting
Digby and Neil continue their portraits by turning their sketches into paintings.
Creative Classes
Drama for inclusivity
Going on an adventure
The Dot
Autumn leaves
Be a friend
Disco dancing
Dinosaur dig
The Wild West
Train adventures
When is a stick not a stick?
Firework
Let's sign – I See Stars
Metamorphosis
Spectacular choralography
Chicken challenge
Scarecrow dancing
Colourful melodies
Colour my world
Boy
Puppet masters
ME3PO – Creative arts with aliens
Make it and play it!
Shake the papaya tree
Striking a sound!
The abstract world of Kandinsky
Cat-toons!
Videos
Mark Morris Dance Group – Disability Dance Workshop
Approaches for dance students with intellectual disabilities
