Cultural institutions supporting the growth and development of children
Children's Week 2024: A week of fun, learning, and advocacy for children across Western Australia.
Image credit: Students participating in the WA Museum’s education program, photo by Luke Reily.
In celebration of Children’s Week 2024, we want to recognise the amazing contributions of the cultural institutions we support, including the Art Gallery WA, WA Museum, State Library of Western Australia and the Arts and Culture Trust. These organisations welcome thousands of children and young people every year, where they can learn, play and explore.
At the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries we’re proud of the work of the cultural institutions we support, and we value the impact they have on WA’s children and young people.
The Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) is dedicated to delivering research-based artist-led workshops, exhibition tours, events, and experiences for children and young people. Through interactive all-ages exhibitions like Forecast, children are invited to significantly contribute and participate in the arts.
These opportunities are designed to support the social and emotional wellbeing of children and families, as well as fostering critical thinking, innovation and imagination.
In 2023-24 AGWA welcomed more than 5000 students and developed exhibition resources with accompanying Making and Responding Learning Resources (PDF 7MB) for early learning, primary and secondary students.
The State Library, located in the Perth Cultural Centre, delivers education workshops and children’s programs in person and online and provides resources for children and families across the state through its support for 233 public libraries.
They offer year-round tailored education experiences for students to engage with collections and exhibitions. Children can also access e-books, audio books and video content through a range of e-resource platforms with their state or public library membership.
The State Library’s long standing and popular Better Beginnings program, promotes early literacy and encourages families to read, talk, sing, write and play. Book packs are delivered to every baby, toddler and kindy student in Western Australia.
The WA Museum engages and meets the interests of children and young people year-round through new exhibits and enticing temporary exhibitions, workshops, school holiday programs and events.
For example, Boola Bardip hosted the Ask an Astronaut evening where children had the chance to speak to Katherine Bennell-Pegg, Australia’s first female astronaut, about everything and anything to do with space.
The WA Museum has also welcomed close to 1000 schools and 50,000 students across its 7 public locations and engaged with nearly 9000 teachers in the past year.
Throughout the year, the Arts and Culture Trust welcomes thousands of children to the various cultural venues and spaces it manages across WA, providing kids with safe spaces to connect through performing arts and cultural experiences.
Image Credit: Children question time with astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg, photo by Grace Sanders Creative.