creative and performing arts | Sydney Catholic Schools

Emerging young artists inspired by Sistine Chapel creative experience

Sydney Catholic Schools’ gifted and talented visual arts students stepped into a world of creativity, history and faith during a two-day immersive arts experience inspired by one of the world’s most iconic artistic masterpieces.

Bringing together students from across Sydney Catholic Schools secondary schools, the program combined hands-on creative workshops with a visit to the internationally acclaimed Sistine Chapel Revelations Exhibition at St Mary’s Cathedral forecourt.

Students explored the beauty and significance of the Vatican Museums and the extraordinary works of Michelangelo, and were encouraged to think creatively and critically as they reflected on the relationship between art, storytelling and faith.

Using cutting-edge projection technology and ultra-high-resolution imagery sourced directly from the Vatican archives, the exhibition features a purpose-built structure that evokes the scale, atmosphere and splendour of the Sistine Chapel, offering a profound encounter with the art, history and imagination of the Renaissance.

St Mary’s Cathedral College student Oscar Smith said the exhibition was an awe-inspiring experience.

“I had no expectations going in but seeing the expanse, knowing the real Sistine Chapel is even taller, was just amazing,” he said. “How they captured it, with the projections, the sounds, it felt really immersive and real. It really took away my words.”

The visit to the exhibition was followed by workshops that allowed students to experiment with new artistic techniques, collaborate with peers and transform their inspiration into original works of art.

Students had the opportunity to learn from renowned spray paint mural artist Danny Mulyono, whose vibrant religious murals feature on the walls of a number of schools across Sydney. Danny challenged students to explore bold forms of artistic expression while drawing on themes of faith and imagination.

Mount St Joseph Catholic College …

domenictrimboli01May 21, 2026|

Young Archie finalist shines at AGNSW

A grandfather turns his head towards the television, a portrait of seriousness as his grandson quietly snaps a photo of his pensive face.

The candid image, rendered in brushstrokes of warm brown touched with vivid blues and greens, now hangs at The Art Gallery of NSW where it has a very good chance of winning this year’s Young Archie Prize.

Steven Puwadi, a Year 12 student at Corpus Christi College Maroubra, is the artist behind the work.

Titled My Kung Kung, the portrait is a sweet and vibrant sequel to a painting of his grandmother which won the Sydney Catholic Schools’ annual portrait prize in 2023.

“To have a prestigious event specifically recognise younger people and put their work on that same plane as professional artists is inspiring.” – Steven Purwadi

In the year since then, Steven has worked with professional artists at a multi-day intensive workshop with the National Art School in Darlinghurst to take his painting to a new level.

“For my grandmother’s portrait, I took a very staged photo, bought a hat for her to wear specifically for the portrait, edited it in photoshop and aimed to copy it as closely as I could,” he said.

“This time I was more confident and experimental with my form. I wanted to be more spontaneous.”

Steven said it felt great to be a finalist in the respected Young Archie prize.

“To have a prestigious event specifically recognise younger people and put their work on that same plane as professional artists is inspiring,” he said.

Steven said his grandfather first saw his portrait on the Art Gallery of NSW …

jaderamirezsydcatholiceduauJune 20, 2024|

Eisteddfod 2024: More students take the stage

Equity and inclusion are centre stage with the newest additions to Sydney Catholic Schools’ annual Eisteddfod.

Now in its fourth year, the 2024 event has attracted more than 1,300 registrations across solo and ensemble performance categories in drama, dance, instrumental and vocal.

Students from Eileen O’Connor Catholic College Lewisham, which caters for students with moderate intellectual disabilities, will perform in the secondary choir event for the first time this year.

A gospel choir section and an infant’s dance section for students from Kindergarten to Year 2 are also new to the program.

This addition brings dance performance opportunities to all primary and high school students in the system for the first time this year.

“Students get well-rounded access to the arts that goes far beyond the classroom.” – Danielle Fuller

Parents were also able to register their children alongside school submissions this year, leading to more soloists accessing the competition as part of a well-rounded arts offering.

“There is deep research that shows that arts education and participation in the arts can lead to improved cognitive, social, and behavioural outcomes in early childhood, adolescence and throughout life,” said Sydney Catholic Schools’ Manager: Performing and Visual Arts, Danielle Fuller.

“At Sydney Catholic schools we’ve always had industry practitioners alongside the best educational practitioners, so that students get well-rounded access to the arts that goes far beyond the classroom.”

Growing opportunity

The Eisteddfod has improved year on year to give more students and schools opportunities to access competition, and with it feedback from industry professionals who act as adjudicators across the events.

This year’s adjudicators include James Bryce, who received an OAM for services to …

jaderamirezsydcatholiceduauApril 11, 2024|

2023 Eisteddfod: The results are in

The Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) Eisteddfod has wrapped up for another year after six weeks of some incredible performances.

The 2023 Eisteddfod saw over 1,200 entries from 114 schools, making it the biggest Eisteddfod we’ve seen yet.

In the last two months, some of the system’s most exciting artistic talent took to the stage across five different schools, performing in four categories: Dance, Vocal, Instrumental and Drama. VIEW INDIVIDUAL RESULTS HERE

Performances were judged by SCS Specialists together with industry experts and points were awarded for each place, certificate and participation.

St Charles Catholic Primary School Ryde were crowned winners of this year’s Eisteddfod for the second year in a row after receiving the most points over the course of the six weeks.

Mount St Joseph Catholic College Milperra took out second place, while All Saints Catholic College Liverpool came in third.

A selection of the best and brightest acts from this year’s Eisteddfod were also invited back to perform at the Eisteddfod Showcase which was held at Freeman Catholic College Bonnyrigg.

Now in its third year, the Eisteddfod is an annual opportunity for our students to express their artistic flair and build confidence and skills through performing to an audience. Look back on last year’s Eisteddfod

domenictrimboli01June 25, 2023|

Study HSC performing arts with ViVA!

Are you interested in studying the performing arts for the Higher School Certificate (HSC) but aren’t sure if your school is offering the subject?

The ViVA! Performing Arts Program provides all Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) secondary students with the option of studying Dance, Drama, Music 1, Music 2 and Music Extension—even if the course is not running at their school.

Through ViVA!, students are able to attend inter-school combined classes at Southern Cross Catholic College Burwood, SCS’s specialist performing arts college.

The program includes weekly face-to-face workshops where students complete practical components of their chosen course, together with online theory modules to be completed at school or at home.

It offers students a blended delivery model that allows them to explore their passion and extend their skills, whilst remaining at their current school.

ViVA! students are able to learn at Southern Cross’ state-of-the-art facilities and have the opportunity to work with industry professionals, such as composers and musical directors.

Eva Spata, Supervisor: Creative & Performing Arts, said the ViVA! Program is a fantastic way students can continue to develop their passion for the performing arts.

“ViVA! first began in 2017 and in that time it’s been great to see so many students complete the HSC with the help of the program,” Eva said.

“It’s important that every student at SCS is given the option to choose the performing arts for the HSC” – Eva Spata

“Being able to study Dance, Drama and Music at an excellent facility alongside like-minded students is an exciting opportunity that we hope many of our soon-to-be HSC students take advantage of,” she said.

To find out more contact eva.spata@syd.catholic.edu.au or complete an expression

domenictrimboli01June 22, 2023|

Tournament of Minds: St Agnes’ top honours

St Agnes’ Catholic Primary School Matraville students have achieved honours in their first foray into problem-solving competition Tournament of Minds.

In the tournament’s NSW regional final, two teams of St Agnes’ students maintained creativity and focus in two of the four six-week challenges: STEM and the Arts.

The participating students were in Years 4, 5 and 6.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

Each challenge asks teams to think flexibly and to create and collaborate without input from their teachers, parents or peers to solve a problem.

In light of COVID-19, they presented their work via two videos after working remotely for the duration of the challenge.

“I learned so much from my STEM task, which made me love science even more” – Olivia Clausen

View St Agnes’ Tournament of Minds STEM challenge entry

ENTHUSIASM, PERSISTENCE, CREATIVITY

St Agnes’ STEM team created three unique objects meant to communicate to other life forms in space, after researching the voyager golden records and pioneer plaques sent on spacecraft in the 1970s to seek extraterrestrial life.

The Arts team created an animation to teach students about Art History, and presented their view on whether technology should be used to teach the arts in future.

“It was exhilarating and exciting to see the students engage in this challenge with enthusiasm, persistence and creativity,” said Catherine Millazzo, one of the school’s challenge facilitators.

“We are so proud of them and happy to see them receive public recognition for their effort and achievement”- Catherine Millazzo

“The challenges guide students through a hierarchy of thinking, moving from knowing through to creating and evaluating,” Ms Millazzo said.

“This helped them to develop strong learning behaviours that could support them throughout their schooling years and into …

jaderamirezsydcatholiceduauOctober 12, 2021|

Emerging young artists inspired by Sistine Chapel creative experience

Young Archie finalist shines at AGNSW

Eisteddfod 2024: More students take the stage

2023 Eisteddfod: The results are in

Study HSC performing arts with ViVA!

Tournament of Minds: St Agnes’ top honours

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which our schools and offices now stand. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

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