Creative Arts Academic Tour 2025
When 24 talented Wenona students departed Sydney Airport in the April school holidays, they were not just embarking on a typical school excursion. They were entering a living classroom spanning three European countries and some of the world’s most celebrated artistic and cultural institutions.
The Creative Arts Academic Tour offered our Years 10 and 11 students studying Visual Arts, Textiles, Design and Technology, or Photomedia, a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Europe's rich creative heritage while developing their own artistic practice through workshops and masterclasses.
Landing in London to glorious spring sunshine, the group wasted no time diving into both service and creativity. Their first full day balanced environmental conservation at Wormwood Scrubs with visits to the National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery, where they traced artistic development from Tudor England to contemporary masterpieces.
The Victoria and Albert Museum showcased architecture, fashion, and textiles, while the innovative Outernet digital experience and Tate Modern introduced them to cutting-edge contemporary expression. A highlight for many was exploring the University of the Arts London campuses, where students participated in workshops and gained insights into potential future pathways in the creative industries.
Amsterdam’s artistic legacy came next, with the Rijksmuseum offering an exceptional opportunity to observe Rembrandt's The Night Watch undergoing restoration. Beyond simply viewing art, students became creators during a drawing workshop at st-Art, supporting emerging artists, and later watching architectural history unfold during a canal-side walking tour.
At the Moco Museum, they encountered works by Banksy, Warhol and Basquiat, before a sobering visit to learn about Anne Frank's life and the history of Nazi-occupied Amsterdam – a powerful reminder of art's role in documenting and responding to human experience.
The Italian leg began with Pisa and Florence, where Renaissance masterpieces and the spectacular Scoppio del Carro (explosion of the cart) festival coincided with their visit. The 350-year-old Florentine tradition featuring a centuries-old wagon pulled by oxen and culminating in a fireworks display provided unexpected cultural inspiration.
Students sketched at the Leonardo Art School and observed Michelangelo's David at the Accademia before exchanging paintbrushes for rolling pins during an Italian cooking masterclass, where they prepared fresh pasta and tiramisu from scratch.
In Milan, former Brazilian fashion model, Sara, guided them through Italian fashion houses, from Armani to Ferragamo, culminating in a visit to the Prada Foundation to view contemporary art within Rem Koolhaas' innovative architectural space.
Staff members, Ms Juliette Carson, Ms Amy Webb and Ms Erinn Taba, expertly guided the group throughout this intensive creative odyssey, ensuring these young artists returned home not just with sketchbooks filled with inspiration, but with a profoundly expanded artistic perspective and unforgettable memories of European creative excellence.