Niels Tofahrn (Germany), Eye on the Ocean, Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2016. Photo Jessica Wyld
Each year the Alcoa Schools Education Program offers primary and secondary students opportunities to meet and work with exhibiting artists in ‘artist workshops’, ‘spotlight talks’ or ‘interactive exhibition tours’ with our trained educators. The Sculpture by the Sea exhibition offers so many learning opportunities for students and teachers in an out-of-class room environment where they are encouraged to learn about and respond to diverse examples of what sculpture is.
In 2016 the Alcoa Schools Education Program has involved 11 exhibiting Artists, 2,513 participating students and 36 ‘artist workshops’. Students developed ideas and construct 3D sculptures whilst exploring a variety of materials and techniques based on each of the artists own processes and practice.
Each year Alcoa sponsor 12 schools to travel and participate in 12 artist workshops including over 300 primary and secondary students each exhibition.
This year it was very exciting to realise that the 20,000th student to be involved in the Alcoa School Eduction program since they began their sponsorship twelve years ago, would be a student from Yarloop Primary school.
Thank you to everyone involved for all of their enthusiasm, excitement and continual support including the teachers, students and Alcoa for sponsoring the Schools Education Program.