The arts and the cultural life of St Hilda’s is a valued and integral part of the school. Through involvement in the various cultural activities students are given unique opportunities to develop essential life skills, nurture their diverse talents, build positive relationships with their peers and create memories that will remain with them long after they have left school. Students are actively encouraged to participate in cultural activities and contribute to the dynamic and diverse St Hilda’s community.
Students can be involved in Drama productions, Music ensembles, bands and choirs, debating, public speaking, mooting and the Visual Arts.
“The possibilities for growth in and through the arts cease only when we do. … The arts are among the most powerful means of promoting re-creation. Those of us who have worked in the arts, who have taught the arts, who have tried to understand what the arts contribute to the development of human consciousness can feel a sense of pride that our legacy is one that attempts to engender life at its most vital level. The arts make such vitality possible. They are sources of deep enrichment for all of us.”
E Eisner The Arts and the Creation of Mind 2002, pg 240
Drama
The co- curricular Drama program provides students with many opportunities to develop and showcase their talents.
Each year, the school participates in a variety of festivals and competitions such as the Gold Coast Secondary Schools Drama Festival, XLD and the Queensland Theatre Company Young Playwrights competition.
Over the years, St. Hilda’s has built an excellent reputation for innovative, challenging and original productions. Students can also be involved in the much-anticipated Inter-House Musical and Play competitions held annually as well as Talent Quests, Theatresports, workshops and other productions.
Extra-curricula Drama lessons (held after school) are also available.
The Visual Arts
St Hilda’s students have opportunities for rich and diverse experiences in the Visual Arts. They engage with the Visual Arts as a language for ‘meaning making’and as a tool for reflection. As a major component of this process students have opportunities to examine the work of a range of artists and making styles aided by visits to regional and Brisbane galleries and master classes provided by a range of artists.
Students also have opportunities to share their work at a number of venues in school based, local and state wide exhibitions.
The Bond University Gallery, Gold Coast City Art Gallery in Bundall and the Queensland Art Gallery provide excellent exhibiting opportunities throughout the year. Over the past decade St Hilda’s Art students have enjoyed accolades at numerous exhibitions including the Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Art, a prestigious exhibition which showcases the work of 45 students from the 15,000 + students who study Art across the state.
While many of our students go on to pursue further study and careers in the visual arts related areas, many more relate how the St Hilda’s approach to the Visual Arts contributes positively to endeavours such as medicine, the law and careers in technology.
Debating and Public Speaking
St Hilda's has a proud tradition in debating and public speaking. Student from years 4 through to 12 annually compete in a number of competitions both on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane.
The school has had a great deal of success over the years and the group of students interested and participating in these two co-curricular activities continues to grow. Additionally both these activities form part of our inter-house competition and inter-class competitions have also been held.
Debating and Public Speaking allow the students to develop a range of skills such as: speaking in front of a crowd, developing an argument and impromptu speaking. More importantly students grow in self-confidence and awareness of the world around them. Above all they have fun and have a chance to meet students from other schools with similar interests.
