Picture my world
An ACT REsearch network project
![Davida Allen not titled [mother feeding child] 1989 colour lithograph, Collection of the National Gallery of Australia purchased with the assistance of the Gordon Darling Australasian Print Fund 2002](http://web.archive.org/web/20081113125618im_/http://cs.nga.gov.au/IMAGES/MED/124926.JPG)
Davida Allen not titled [mother feeding child] 1989 colour lithograph Collection of the National Gallery of Australia Purchased with the assistance of the Gordon Darling Australasian Print Fund 2002 more detail
Introduction | Projects | Home at last | Education department
During the past year, early childhood educators in the Canberra region have been involved in an exciting creative collaboration with the National Gallery of Australia. The project, entitled Picture my world, has been both educationally interesting and professionally satisfying.
The project
Picture my world is a collaborative project involving the National Gallery of Australia and early childhood educational centres in the Canberra region. Schools have responded to the topic of home or sense of place in a variety of ways. Each teacher was given a set of four quality photographic reproductions of works of art from the Home at last exhibition to use as a stimulus for discussion and creative responses in the classroom.
The exhibition curator has worked closely with the ‘ACT REsearch network’, a group of early childhood educators who share an interest in the philosophy of the early childhood schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. The collegial support network met during 2007-08 to discuss exhibition themes and related projects educators are exploring with children. This group is linked to REAIE (Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange) reaie.org.au
It has been wonderful to include educators in the development and design of an exhibition for children and interesting for the curator to work closely with a group of educators in the field.
Designed for preschool and primary students. The exhibition looks at the centrality of home to the experience of childhood.
Grace Cossington Smith Interior with verandah doors 1954 oil on composition board National Gallery of Australia, Canberra Bequest of Lucy Swanton 1982
Participate in Home at last online:
Send in your own ideas and thoughts about our four discussion works >>
Aims of the project included:
- encouraging schools to engage with the NGA as an educational resource
- the NGA education section engaging with schools and school curriculum
- works of art from the NGA collection acting as a high quality, authentic stimulus for learning, discussion and planning curriculum
- encouraging visits to the Gallery by early childhood groups
- promoting early childhood education and emergent curriculum
- valuing young children as theorists and the insights they bring to a work of art
- using works of art as a stimulus for a creative art-making response
- including the child’s voice in the exhibition
- providing the opportunity for educators and school communities to engage with works of art
I hope you enjoy the inspiration of young people and works of art.
Jo Krabman
Educator, Family and School Programs National Gallery of Australia