School students explore Sculpture by the Sea

More than 2,100 primary and secondary students from the communities where Alcoa Australia operates visited Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe this year thanks to the Alcoa supported School Education Program consisting of artist-led sculpture making workshops, focus tours and self-guided school groups. 

298 students from nine Alcoa invited schools participated in 12 artist-led sculpture making workshops and a focus tour including Orelia Primary School, North Dandalup Primary School, Jarrahdale Primary School, Dwellingup Primary School, Waroona District High School, Djidi Djidi Aboriginal School, St Joseph's Waroon  and Harvey Primary School.

During the workshops led by seven exhibiting artists, students explored techniques to create sculpture using clay, wire, plaster, salvaged and recycled items, paper and natural materials.

Interactive focus tours of the exhibition also gave students insight into the relationship between an artist, their artwork and their audience. 

President of Alcoa Australia Elsabe Muller said the company was proud to offer students an engaging, informative and multisensory learning experience outside of the classroom.

“This program aims to inspire younger generations by connecting them with creativity, critical thinking and problem solving,” Ms Muller said. 

“Many sculptors favour aluminium for its strength, light weight and non-corrosive qualities so this year we introduced the Alcoa Aluminium Sculpture Trail where students learned more about the metal we produce – an essential metal for a decarbonised future.” 

Sculpture by the Sea Founding CEO and Artistic Director David Handley said the program offered a unique opportunity for students to work with a professional artist to explore creative play.

“Our partnership with Alcoa Australia is our longest - they have been with us since we began 21 years ago,” Mr Handley said. 

“To date more than 39,000 students have met and worked with exhibiting artists through the Alcoa supported School Education Program and they have come away with a greater understanding of the creative process and what it means to be an artist.”

As a Founding Partner and Major Sponsor, Alcoa also supported the staging of Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe as a free public event and the $10,000 Alcoa Aluminium Sculpture Award given to Fremantle-based artist Steve Tepper for his piece “Suddenly Everything’s Changed”.