This week we showcased a multitude of talent at Chisholm’s Practical and Creative Arts Exhibition. It demonstrated the culmination of a year’s hard work, dedication and striving for excellence for our practical and creative arts students. Our visitors were in awe of the outstanding work produced by Chisholm students in the areas of Visual Arts, Home Economics, Design and Technology, Media and Photography.

There is sometimes a perception that a creative career is only a hobby or will not provide sufficient income. On the contrary, students of the Arts are highly sought-after by employers, as they have discipline, confidence and can accept criticism. Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, was fond of saying his success was due to hiring artists and musicians fascinated with technology, rather than computer geeks.

Recent research from the University of Sydney found that students who study the creative and practical arts “have higher engagement in class, self-esteem and life satisfaction.” As students translate their passion into their work, they are developing commitment, emotional intelligence, resilience and problem-solving skills. In addition, the advantages of studying practical subjects include building technical skills beneficial throughout life, enhancing creativity, improving communication skills and providing hands-on experiences.

Our guest speaker at the Exhibition Opening Night, Michael Millimaci, has paved a career in creative industries nationally and internationally. The pursuit of his passion for Media and Music opened doors along his professional journey. Michael encouraged our students to “do what they love” and to seize the opportunities along the way.

Michael argued that the arts and cultural industry is the most important industry in the world:

“Stop to imagine for a moment, a world without art.
Imagine long drives in the car without music.
Cinemas without movies.
Magazines without any words.
Galleries with blank walls, or theatre stages with no props.
A world without art would limit our ability to understand and appreciate not only other cultures, but ourselves.
It’s very easy to typify ‘essential services’ as those necessary to live or not live, but without art – would we even be living?”

Mrs Fiona Millimaci
Deputy Principal – Administration