Discover Your Creative Potential
At Harrisdale Senior High School, we believe in the power of the Arts to inspire, challenge, and transform students. Our Arts curriculum is designed to nurture creativity, critical thinking, and emotional expression, providing students with the skills and confidence to explore and develop their artistic talents. Whether through Dance, Drama, Media Arts, or Visual Arts, students are given the opportunity to express themselves in diverse and exciting ways.
The Arts Curriculum for Year 7 - 10
In Years 7 to 10, students are introduced to a wide range of creative subjects that help them develop a foundation in the Arts. Our curriculum is designed to encourage students to explore their interests, build skills, and grow as artists. The key subjects offered in lower school include:
- Dance: Students develop an understanding of dance as an expressive art form, exploring movement, choreography, and performance. They engage with both contemporary and traditional dance styles, improving their technical skills and creativity.
- Drama: Drama fosters creativity through acting, storytelling, and performance. Students engage in improvisation, script reading, and creating their own dramatic works, developing both individual and group performance skills.
- Media Arts: Media Arts focuses on the creation and analysis of visual and digital media, including film, photography, and digital design. Students learn how to use technology creatively and critically to communicate messages and ideas.
- Visual Arts: Visual Arts offers students the opportunity to explore various artistic techniques, such as drawing, painting, sculpture, and printmaking. Students gain the skills to express ideas through different mediums and develop their own artistic style.
In these subjects, students will explore both practical and theoretical aspects of the Arts, including understanding historical and cultural contexts, developing creative processes, and refining their artistic techniques.
The Arts Curriculum for Senior School (Years 11 & 12)
In Senior School, the range of Arts subjects expands, providing students with the opportunity to specialise in areas that align with their interests and aspirations. The courses available in Years 11 and 12 include:
- Dance (General): Students continue to develop their dance technique and choreography skills, working in solo and group contexts. The course also includes performance studies and the analysis of dance as an art form.
- Drama (General): This course builds on students' dramatic skills, focusing on performance, production, and script analysis. Students work in a variety of performance styles and genres, deepening their understanding of dramatic theory and practice.
- Visual Arts (ATAR and General): Students refine their artistic skills, exploring various media such as painting, drawing, and sculpture. The course also focuses on the development of a personal art portfolio, with an emphasis on both creative expression and critical analysis.
- Media Production and Analysis (General): Students explore the theory and practice of media production, including film, television, and digital media. They engage with the technical and conceptual elements of media creation, focusing on visual storytelling, production techniques, and media analysis.
- Design (General): In this subject, students learn the principles of design and work on real-world projects, from graphic design to product development. The course allows students to express their creativity while learning about design processes and problem-solving.
Why Study the Arts?
Studying the Arts provides students with a wide range of benefits, including:
- Creative Expression: The Arts offer students a platform to express themselves in unique and meaningful ways.
- Critical Thinking: Students develop the ability to think critically, analyse creative works, and understand the cultural contexts in which art is created.
- Collaboration: Many Arts subjects involve group projects, helping students develop teamwork and communication skills.
- Problem-Solving: The creative processes involved in the Arts encourage students to approach challenges with innovative thinking and resilience.
- Career Pathways: The Arts open up numerous career opportunities, including careers in design, media, performance, teaching, and more.
State-of-the-Art Facilities and Resources
Harrisdale Senior High School provides students with access to excellent facilities and resources, including:
- Art Studios: Well-equipped spaces for painting, sculpture, drawing, and other visual arts.
- Performance Spaces: Dedicated areas for dance and drama practice and performance.
- Media Labs: Equipped with the latest technology for film production, photography, and digital design.
Opportunities for Enrichment
We also offer a variety of extracurricular opportunities for students to further explore their creative interests, including:
- Art Exhibitions: Displaying students' artwork and providing opportunities for them to showcase their talents.
- School Performances: Drama and dance performances that allow students to apply their skills in real-world contexts.
- Media and Film Projects: Opportunities for students to create their own media projects and gain hands-on experience in production.
- Musical Theatre: School performances where students can perform and collaborate to showcase their performing arts talents.
- Harrisdale HEAT consists of Hip Hop, Technical, and Cheer teams, providing a diverse range of experiences for students of all interests and abilities. The program offers opportunities to train, refine skills, and perform at school, community and state events while fostering teamwork, discipline, and creativity.
Join the Creative Community at Harrisdale Senior High School
Choosing to study the Arts at Harrisdale Senior High School means becoming part of a vibrant, creative community. Our experienced and passionate teachers are dedicated to helping students achieve their artistic goals, whether they are pursuing a career in the Arts or simply want to explore their creative potential.
For more information about our Arts courses and curriculum, please contact The Arts Department at Harrisdale Senior High School. We look forward to supporting you on your creative journey!
