The Arts · Foundation · The World as an Art Gallery · Term 3

Public Art: Art in Our Community

Identifying art in public spaces like parks, buildings, and streets.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9AVAFR02
• AC9AVAFE01

About This Topic

Art Around Us encourages Foundation students to recognize that art isn't just found in museums, it's everywhere in our daily lives. From the statues in the park and the murals on the street to the design of their school playground and the patterns on their clothes, art is a constant presence. In the Australian Curriculum, this topic helps students connect their classroom learning to the 'real world' and their local community.

Students explore the purpose of public art: Is it to tell a story? To make a place look beautiful? To remember someone important? They also learn about the different people who make this art, including local community members and First Nations artists. This topic comes alive when students can go on 'art walks' around their school or local area, physically interacting with public works and discussing their impact on the environment with their peers.

Key Questions

1. Justify the placement of a large sculpture in a public park.
2. Analyze how public art alters the ambiance of a street.
3. Evaluate the intended audience for a specific piece of public art.

Learning Objectives

• Identify examples of public art within the local community.
• Explain the purpose of specific public art pieces.
• Analyze how public art affects the appearance and feeling of a place.
• Justify the placement of a public sculpture in a chosen community space.

Before You Start

Identifying Shapes and Colors

Why: Students need to be able to recognize basic visual elements to identify and describe artworks.

Exploring Materials and Tools

Why: Understanding that different materials are used to make things helps students appreciate the creation of public art.

Key Vocabulary

Public Art	Art created to be displayed in publicly accessible spaces, such as parks, streets, and buildings.
Sculpture	A three-dimensional work of art, often made from materials like stone, metal, or wood, that can be found in public spaces.
Mural	A large painting applied directly to a wall or ceiling surface, often found on the sides of buildings.
Ambiance	The character or atmosphere of a place, which can be influenced by the presence of art.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Art is only things that are in frames.

What to Teach Instead

Students often have a very narrow definition of art. Use an 'art hunt' to point out sculptures, architecture, and even well-designed signs to help them see that art and design are all around them.

Common Misconception

Public art is just 'decoration.'

What to Teach Instead

Children may not realize that art can have a job, like telling the history of a place. Show examples of memorials or Indigenous 'Welcome to Country' markers to show how art can carry important messages.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: The School Art Hunt

Students go on a walk around the school in small groups to find 'hidden art' (e.g., a colorful tile, a carved bench, a garden design). They take a photo or draw a sketch of their favorite find to share with the class.

30 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: Why is it There?

Show a picture of a famous Australian public artwork (like the 'Big Merino' or a city mural). Students discuss with a partner why someone would put art in that specific spot and who they think it was made for.

15 min·Pairs

Simulation Game: The Park Designers

In small groups, students use blocks or recycled materials to design a 'mini-park.' They must decide where to put one piece of 'art' (like a statue or a fountain) so that everyone who visits the park can enjoy it.

25 min·Small Groups

Real-World Connections

• City planners and landscape architects work together to decide where to place sculptures and murals in parks and along city streets, considering how the art will be viewed by residents and visitors.
• Local councils often commission artists, including Indigenous Australian artists, to create public artworks that reflect the community's history, culture, or identity.
• Tourists use maps and guidebooks to find notable public art installations in cities like Melbourne or Sydney, using them as landmarks and points of interest.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Provide students with a picture of a local public artwork. Ask them to write one sentence describing what they see and one sentence explaining why they think it was placed there.

Discussion Prompt

Take students on a short walk around the school grounds or a nearby park. Ask: 'What art can you see? How does it make this space feel different? If you could add a new piece of art here, what would it be and why?'

Quick Check

Show students images of different public spaces, some with art and some without. Ask them to point to or verbally identify the spaces that feel more interesting or welcoming, and explain their choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best hands-on strategies for teaching about art in the community?

The 'Art Walk' is the most powerful strategy. Physically taking students out of the classroom to see art in its 'natural habitat' changes their perspective. By touching a sculpture or standing under a mural, they experience the scale and impact of public art. Following this with a collaborative design task, where they plan their own public art, allows them to apply their observations and think like community artists themselves.

How can I find public art near my school?

Check your local council's website; many have 'public art maps.' You can also look for murals on local shops, statues in nearby parks, or even decorative elements in the architecture of local buildings.

How do I explain 'vandalism' vs. 'street art' to young children?

Focus on 'permission.' Street art is made by artists who were invited to share their work to make a place better. Vandalism is when someone draws on something without asking, which can be hurtful to the community.

Why should we talk about the 'purpose' of public art?

It helps students understand that art is a choice made by people to communicate with others. This builds their own sense of agency, they realize that they, too, can create things that change how a space feels or what people think about.