Funding supports budding creatives at school
Budding young authors and illustrators from East Victoria Park Primary School and Education Support Centre have been able to create and publish their books thanks to a $37,354 Creativity for Schools program grant.
The students officially launched their books today at the Victoria Park Library with professionally printed copies going on sale and proceeds to be donated to their P&C.
Lead by renowned junior fiction author Kristy Nita Brown, more than 150 students across Years 4, 5, and 6 embarked on a Book Builders Challenge to produce captivating works including picture books, chapter books and graphic novels.
The students explored narrative writing, illustrating, editing and the entire publishing process during 22 workshops where they were also joined by other experts in storytelling, illustration and publishing including Sean E Avery, Kylie Howarth, Ash Harrier, Aśka, Kathryn Lefroy and Gabriel Evans.
The books were evaluated by industry leaders as part of the challenge and winners earned a professional print run of their work.
Creativity for Schools is part of the State Government's $2 million per year Creative Learning Program. Creativity for Schools offers grants to schools, arts organisations and individual artists in two categories: collaboration and residency.
The collaboration category awards up to $60,000 to projects and/or programs designed to connect Western Australian arts organisations and creative practitioners with schools. The residency category awards up to $20,000 to projects involving artists in residence in school environments.
Photo: Junior fiction author Kristy Nita Brown with one of the winning entries from the Book Builders Challenge at East Victoria Park Primary School.
Kristy Nita Brown said it’s been wonderful to get the opportunity to work with staff and students at East Victoria Park Primary School and Education Support Centre on the Book Builders Challenge.
"I created the Book Builders Challenge to bridge the gap between the classroom and the real-world of independent publishing,” she said.
"The program is aligned with the WA curriculum and the aim is to ignite a lifelong passion for reading and writing while providing students with a platform to shine.
"While the book launch is the grand finale for the students, their teachers have already seen an increase in literacy engagement, writing and vocabulary skills which will continue to foster their creativity."