St Felix’s Catholic Primary School Bankstown have unearthed some budding young artists after its students participated in a unique art literacy program run by the State Library of NSW’s Multicultural Unit.

In partnership with the Sydney Catholic Schools Refugee Liaison Program, the State Library facilitated several workshops designed for EAL/D (English as an additional language/dialect), refugee and vulnerable students.

The students were treated to a special visit to the State Library as part of the program.

The workshops were overseen by the State Library’s Education Officer, Andrea Sturgeon.

They ran over two blocks, with guided drawing classes over Zoom in Term 1 and a series of online portraiture sessions in Term 3.

As part of the program, St Felix students also visited the State Library in Sydney, where they were treated to a tour of the library, morning tea and a private art lesson.

Together, the sessions aimed to build language development through art and expose students to new materials, techniques and concepts.

Keen from the get-go

Sylvia Braden, a teacher at St Felix, said the students really embraced the opportunities that the workshops presented to them.

“They were very eager to take part right from the start,” Mrs Braden said.

“The students were excited about using materials they had never used before, like oil pastel crayons and oil tip pens for example.

“There was an overwhelming response to each workshop, with more than 160 students attending each of the three portraiture sessions that were run in Term 3.”

A whole new palette

Mrs Braden said there was a big shift in confidence among the students who participated in the workshops.

“It really opened their minds and encouraged conversation and questioning” – Sylvia Braden

“The language that they were exposed to – language specific to art – was …