In the early hours of Saturday morning, 30 senior academic Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Art students, met at the College to get the 2024 Melbourne Arts tour underway. 

The tour was an amazing and enriching experience that combined our curriculum with live entertainment and arts experiences. Melbourne, known for its vibrant arts scene, offered a plethora of activities that catered to all Arts students over the four days. 

A visit to the National Gallery of Victoria provided insights into both historical and contemporary art, while a workshop at Chunky Move, gave students a hands-on experience in contemporary dance styles including break dancing. 

The production of The Almighty Sometimes by the Melbourne Theatre Company, exposed students to thought-provoking drama, and immersive experiences like Terminator Live, Wicked and Luzia by Cirque du Soleil, showcased the pinnacle of orchestral, musical and acrobatic arts in a variety of beautiful venues. 

Visits to the Australian Centre of the Moving Image, Hosier Lane, Top Arts and Artvo, allowed students the opportunity to discover the history of Australian Film and Television, explore street art, view the work of Victoria’s top Visual Art students, and enjoy photo opportunities with friends in an immersive art gallery. 

Integrating activities like forest therapy also offered students a unique way to reflect and absorb the creative energy of the city and learn hands on nature-based strategies for stress reduction. 

A trip to Melbourne would of course not be complete without a visit to the historic Victoria Markets, where students shopped for gifts, souvenirs, Collingwood merchandise, jam donuts and a selection of eclectic hats! 

We hope that the tour has broadened the students' artistic horizons and also inspired their creativity and a deeper appreciation for the arts. 

Thank you to parents and families for allowing your children the opportunity to travel, to students for your engagement and enthusiasm, and to Mrs Selby and Ms Handley for your kindness, care and daily squeezing of 30 teenagers into the same tram.

SHARYN WALKER-JOYCE | HEAD OF THE ARTS