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Video

Hannie Rayson on the Australian voice in theatre

How important do you think it is to hear Australian stories told on stage? Listen as Hannie Rayson explains her early beliefs about where great drama comes from. After watching this clip, try writing a dramatic scene that takes place at a family barbeque.

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Developing script ideas with Hannie Rayson

How do you come up with ideas to write about? Watch this clip to find out how Australian playwright and screenwriter Hannie Rayson begins her writing process. She begins with a "big question" - if you were writing a play, what big question would you ask?

Video

Kindred spirits: dancing our identity

Who are we and where do we belong? What and who decides our identity? People often ask these questions, and some may seek to discover the answers to them. In his dance piece entitled 'ID', choreographer Stephen Page explores what makes us similar, what makes us different and what gives us a sense of belonging. The clip ...

Video

'The Rajah quilt' 1841

The Rajah quilt was made by female convicts on route from England to the colony of Tasmania in 1841. It consists of 2815 pieces of fabric and was presented to the Governor's wife upon arrival as a testament to the women's industry. The women learned these skills on the long journey to Australia on board their convict ship ...

Video

Reading with Rebecca Lim

Watch this clip to find out what author Rebecca Lim liked to read when she was younger. How have these early interests influenced her writing as an adult? Do you get creative inspiration from books you read? What advice does Rebecca give to people who want to be writers?

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John Lewin: 'Reed warbler' 1805

Natural history illustrator John Lewin was the first professional artist to come to Australia as a free settler. His collected illustrations of native birds became the first non-government book published in the colony. How difficult do you think it was to identify and illustrate so many different birds?

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Emma Boyd: 'The quail shooter' 1884

In this work Emma Boyd depicts the landscape near her home, ‘The Grange', in Victoria. See how the landscape dominates the single human figure? What do you think this suggests? What is the artists trying to say by creating this sense of scale?

Video

What is Music?: What makes an effective AFL club song?

AFL songs are among the most widely recognised and popular pieces of music in Australia, sung proudly year after year. Would it surprise you to find out they’re rarely original? Discover the early 20th-century origins of most of Australia’s football chants and the stylistic features that make them so effective in energising ...

Image

Margaret Preston: 'Flying over the Shoalhaven', 1942

This resource includes an enlargeable image of the painting 'Flying over Shoalhaven River' by Margaret Preston and catalogue information about the painting. There is also a video with audio commentary and corresponding onscreen text that provides an interpretation of the painting and information about the artist's views. ...

Video

Rachel Cooper on Indonesia's Envelope-Pushing Dance Troupe

This is a web page featuring an interview with Rachel Cooper about Indonesian dance troupe Nan Jombang and their 2010 US showcase. The article is titled 'An interview with Rachel Cooper: Indonesia's envelope-pushing dance troupe' and includes a photograph and a nine-minute video of one of the performances. Cooper explains ...

Interactive

Writing a discussion

The resource contains information, activities and tasks on how to write a discussion. It includes writing and publishing templates for students for a variety of purposes and contexts. This resource supports the Australian Curriculum in English K–10.

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'Garak the Universe - larrakitj', 2005

This is a larrakitj (hollow funeral pole) sculpture created and painted by Yolngu artist Gulumbu Yunupingu. It depicts the universe ('Garak'); not only all the stars that can be seen with the naked eye but everything that exists beyond. The larrakitj is shown here in a colour image that can be enlarged and is accompanied ...

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Sidney Nolan: 'Ned Kelly', 1946

This web page focuses on Sidney Nolan's famous Ned Kelly series of paintings held by the National Gallery of Australia including links to a gallery of enlargeable images, a primary education resource and a lesson plan with interactive resource for Years 5 and 6. The webpage also includes a video with audio commentary about ...

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Patricia Piccinini

This is a PDF resource that focuses on the artworks of artist Patricia Piccinini, based on the exhibition 'Patricia Piccinini: Once upon a time ...' at the Art Gallery of South Australia (2011), and explores themes such as biodiversity and biotechnology. It comprises 28 pages and includes background information on the artist, ...

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Zhang Xiaogang, 'Bloodline (Two comrades with red baby)', 1995

This is a painting by Chinese artist Zhang Xiaogang (b1958) depicting two parents and a child. The painting is shown as an enlargeable image. Text onscreen gives information about the context and intention of the work of art, critical of the one-child policy in China, as well as a comprehensive visual analysis explaining ...

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Sidney Nolan: 'Kiata', c1943

This resource includes an enlargeable image of the painting 'Kiata' by Sidney Nolan and catalogue information about the painting. There is also a video with audio commentary and corresponding onscreen text that provides an interpretation of the painting, and information about the artist's views. The painting represents ...

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Hans Heysen: 'The saplings', 1904

This resource includes an enlargeable image of the painting 'The saplings' by Hans Heysen and catalogue information about the painting. There is also a video with audio commentary and corresponding onscreen text that provides an interpretation of the painting and information about the artist's views. The painting pays homage ...

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The Mughal Court paintings

This is an enlargeable image of a Mughal Court painting (1560-1858) from a Bhagavata Purana showing a battle between Krishna and the fire-headed demon Mura. The Bhagavata Purana is a collection of Hindu devotional stories in Sanskrit, illustrating the stories of Krishna in human form. Accompanying the image is information ...

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Nici Cumpston, 'Campsite V, Nookamka Lake', 2008

This is a photographic print by Barkindji/Paakintji artist Nici Cumpston (b1963) depicting Nookamka, a freshwater lake situated in the Riverland region of South Australia. The work is shown as an enlargeable image. Text onscreen gives information about the Murray-Darling River system’s degradation, and a description of ...

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'Miyuki: the imperial outing and hunt', 1600-10

This is a pair of six-fold screens, painted during the Momoyama period (1573-1615) in Japan, depicting chapter 29 of the epic Japanese novel ‘Tale of Genji’. The screens are shown as an enlargeable image. Text onscreen gives detailed information on the history of the novel, the period it was written and an extensive visual ...