An international ‘Artist in Residence’ program is bringing joy to students with disabilities affected by lockdowns in Melbourne.
Hygenia Lobo, a teacher at VMCH’s St Paul’s College specialist school in Balwyn, was inspired to think outside the square during lockdown 4. She contacted three artist friends, Alisha Aranha and Nandan Joshi, who both live in Mumbai and Savanthi Jayawickrema from Melbourne, to run online classes.
“The past lockdowns had a significant impact on our students’ learning and the fourth and sudden lockdown got me thinking more about the personal and social wellbeing of my students,” Hygenia said.
“I wanted to bring something different and creative to my online classes. Since all my students love art, the idea of bringing guest artists online was a perfect way to meaningfully engage and connect them to their learning and interests.”
The sessions were a hit, with students embracing the opportunity to express themselves through art and connect with their new artist friends, and there are plans to make the program ongoing.
Artist Nandan, whose homeland India has been hit hard by the pandemic, said the program was a “rich experience”. He said the pandemic has not been easy. “I look for ways to help, learn, engage with children and animals in this time. It keeps me going. Hygenia’s program was an opportunity to do something for children with my skills.”
According to Alisha the program is a fantastic learning opportunity, not just for students but for the artists. “If anything, the pandemic has helped do away with geographical boundaries, especially in terms of exchanges related to the arts and education,” she said.
Savanthi described the experience as “joyous beyond words”. She said the children were engaging and all of them created beautiful art unique to everyone.