Course description
The National Visual Art Education Conference (NVAEC) brings together teachers, artists, cultural practitioners and thought-leaders to inspire and energise best-practice teaching and learning in the visual arts. The conference is held at the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Online ticket holders in Tasmania can attend an in-person satellite event on the final day of the conference in Hobart.
Wednesday 21 January 2026: Hunter Street School of Creative Arts, University of Tasmania, Nipaluna (Hobart), TAS
Purchase an online ticket to attend the Hobart Satellite Even in person:
https://nga.gov.au/learn/national-visual-art-education-conference
Join us to connect with other Tasmanian visual arts teachers in person at Hunter St Art School (UTAS) and connect with other attendees across Australia. Watch the keynote address by Kirli Saunders streamed at the venue and participate in a hands-on workshops facilitated by Jane Polley (Curriculum Specialist, ACARA), Michelle Walker (DECYP Visual Arts Teacher), and Dr Clare Walton (socially engaged practitioner, artist educator and playworker).
Jane Polley: Visual Arts and the Australian Curriculum: Possibilities, challenges, and resources
Michelle Walker: Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Content in Teaching Practice
Dr Clare Walton: Art, Risky Play and the Safe Space
Course outcomes
Participants will:
- Improve their understanding of visual arts education across year levels.
- Deepen their understanding of the visual arts curriculum
- Deepen their understanding of connections between the visual arts curriculum, Cross-Curriculum Priorities (CCPs), and General Capabilities (GCs).
- Apply curriculum knowledge to practical classroom strategies by through hands on artmaking activities and exploring examples of units of work.
- Improve their understanding of how to authentically integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) into teaching practice with a focus on Tasmanian contexts.
- Engage in hands-on exploration of natural materials and artistic processes and design ways to implement these in the classroom, including making pastels from found pigments.
- Experience and evaluate measured risky play through artmaking and reflect on its role in fostering creativity and resilience.
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership Standards
1. Know students and how they learn
2. Know the content and how to teach it
3. Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning
4. Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments
6. Engage in professional learning
7. Engage professionally with colleagues.