Student Login

Special Programs

Gifted and Talented Education: Visual Arts

Proudly Offering Extension, Enrichment & Differentiation in the Visual Arts

The Gifted and Talented Education: Visual Arts program was established at Applecross Senior High School in 1968, it was the first program of its type in Western Australia, and celebrated 40 years of excellence in 2008. Our prestigious Visual Arts program produces graduates highly regarded by tertiary institutions and arts industry due to our tradition of excellence and reputation for success.

Only students who demonstrate talent in the Visual Arts are selected to attend the ‘Special Art Program’ at Applecross Senior High School following rigorous statewide practical art testing. Each year our school receives well over 200 applications for the 32 positions available in Year 8. The program has an excellent retention record, and students enrolled at Year 8 level continue with their studies through to Year 12.

This unique Visual Arts program offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a range of highly specialised studio disciplines during regular Saturday morning workshops conducted by professional artists and practicing crafts persons. Our student’s benefit from exhibiting their artwork and being involved in community art projects.

This differentiated curriculum offers the participant exposure to contemporary Visual Arts practice, current exhibitions, and collaborative involvement in studio workshops that provide a stimulating and supportive environment for the gifted and talented student. We help our students achieve their potential by encouraging them to conceptualise, explore sophisticated visual communication techniques, and develop a breadth and depth of personal investigation.

The ‘Special Art Program’ at Applecross Senior High School is challenging and exciting. A student’s full commitment is necessary, however, the long term benefits and rewards ensure a pathway to tertiary study in a diverse variety of career paths.

Extract from the ‘The National Review of Visual Education’ – August 2008:

The overarching driver sensed by Governments, nationally and internationally, is that creativity is a resource that must be nurtured in order to harvest the rewards of innovation. Important messages emerging from a decade of international reports on Art Education indicate that:

Creativity is the new key economic driver for international competitiveness
The required skill set for the new workforce includes creativity as a fundamental
The Arts are the curriculum area that has creativity as core

Special Art Awards for Excellence

Year 10 Award for Excellence

2008	Dora Foley
2007	Leah Allegretta
2006	Emma Buswell
2005	Sandra Kerbler
2004	Holly Campbell
2003	Helen Kwok
2002	Christopher Maxwell
2001	Anna Willoughby
2000	Sakura Motomura
1999	Matthew Campbell
1998	Dustin Voggentreiter
1997	Aryanza Bizar

Year 12 Award for Excellence

2008	Emma Buswell
2007	Jim Riley
2006	Rebecca Hutchens
2005	Helen Kwok
2004	Keegan Blair
2003	Julia Koffel
2002	Sakura Motomura
2001	Matthew Campbell
2000	Phoebe Chan
1999	Anna Ellery
1998	Barbara Samarin
1997	Lena Minko

Successful Graduates

Tom Alberts
Nationally and internationally acclaimed Painter.

Professor Su Baker
Head of the School of Art – Victorian College of the Arts (University of Melbourne) – professional artist.

John Barnett
Artist.

Mandy Brown
Printmaker.

Bjorn Dolva
Nationally acclaimed Painter.

Michael Edwards
Architectural Illustrator.

Mark Ho (Chi Kuen Ho)
Subject Award for TEE Art in 1996 (Top Student in Western Australia) - Graphic Designer – Design Lecturer at Curtin University of Technology. Worked as a Graphic Design Tutor in Special Art program at Applecross SHS for a number of years.

David Hummerston (father)
Editorial Counsellor for The West Australian.

Janet Hummerston (mother)
Head of Visual Art Department at Perth College.

Si Hummerston (son)
Professional Artist.

Rebecca Hutchens
Subject Award for TEE Art 2006 (Top Student in Western Australia), General Exhibition, Certificates of Distinction (Art and English Literature), Certificate of Excellence – studying Medicine at the University of Western Australia. Winner of the Rob Riley Award for Highest TEE Achievement for an Aboriginal Student 2006.

Michael Iwanoff
Lecturer in Visual Art at Curtin University of Technology.

Willaim Lee
Subject Award for TEE Art 2007 (Top Student in Western Australia), Certificate of Distinction in Art 2007.

Andre Lipscombe
Curator – City of Fremantle Art Collection.

Malcolm MacLean
Senior Creative Advertising – ‘303 Advertising’ - Perth.

Sandy McKendrick
Textile Artist / Puppeteer - Recognised as a ‘National Treasure’.

Andrew Pollard
Cartographer – Mines Department of Western Australia.

Kylie Porter
Artist. Worked as a Painting Tutor at Applecross SHS in 2006.

Lindsay Pow
Painter – in numerous art collections across Australia including the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Recognised as a ‘National Treasure’. Worked as Painting Tutor at Applecross SHS.

Darryl Robeson
Artist.

Professor Diane Stone PhD
Lecturer in Politics and International Studies at Warwick University, United Kingdom.

Andrew Stumpfel
Artist.

Wayne Vinten
Vinten Browning: Advertising Agency of the Year Award 2007.

Dustin Voggenreiter
QANTAS Spirit of Youth Awards 2006 - named as one of the top 24 Artists under 24 years of age in Australia. Worked as a Photography Tutor at Applecross SHS in 2006.

David Woodland
Became an exhibiting ceramic artist and part time fine art lecturer at Curtin University of Technology. Since 1999, David has worked as an Art Director and Matte Painter in Feature Film visual effects in Sydney and London.

IMPORTANT NEWS
Enrolment

Applecross SHS is currently taking enrolments for 2010. Read more about Admissions and complete the Contact Form.
P & C Association

The next meeting will be held in the school staff room on Monday 16 November at 7.30 pm.
Assistance Required

Support required for the Special Arts Canteen on Saturday mornings at Applecross SHS. For further information please see the flyer in Community - Special Arts Parent Committee on the website.
2010 Premier’s ANZAC Student Tour

Congratulations to Year 9 Applecross SHS student, Claudia Hogan, who has been selected as 1 of 25 state finalists in the Premier’s Anzac Student tour 2010.