IDEAS festival focuses on the creative world breathing life into characters, arcing a storyline and creating illustrations for text - these skills and more were be the subject of workshops at a day-long creative writing festival at The Armidale School on March 31.
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Students from Years 6-8 moved through six different sessions in mixed groups, four run by visiting experts and focusing on a unique aspect of creative endeavour.
It was wonderful to be offer students the chance for something a bit out of the box that will hopefully give them insight into many skills that they will take with them through senior school
- Head of TAS middle school Mark Harrison
Prolific Australian author Sophie Masson gave students a suite of characters and encourage them to develop a storyline; author and editor Beattie Alvarez gave tips on effectively adding - or cutting - words to convey more depth and meaning; illustrator Esther Watt spoke about picture journals and designer Fiona McDonald led sessions on storyboarding.
As well, TAS teachers Ms Collete Brus had students creating dramatic tableaux and Mark Harrison demonstrated expressive speech.
All students submitted a composition for an anthology that will be produced from the day.
The day is being run jointly by head of middle school Mark Harrison, middle school staff and TAS extension and enrichment coordinator Catherine Boydell.
"It was wonderful to be offer students the chance for something a bit out of the box that will hopefully give them insight into many skills that they will take with them through senior school," head of TAS middle school Mark Harrison said.
Extension and enrichment coordinator Catherine Boydell said it was hoped to stage a similar day later in the year.
"We are looking forward to hosting another Festival of Ideas later in the year with a focus on Peace which should be equally as inspiring," she said.
