About
Creative Explorers is a unique program designed and facilitated by artist and early years teacher Verena Curr. In these sessions children and their educators and community are invited to explore creative and arts-based experiences and projects which support their social, emotional, physical and cognitive well-being and development. Children who participate have the opportunity to explore ideas through a number of creative processes which align with the Queensland early years curriculum. Verena has worked across the arts, education, and public programs with children and their communities over the past eighteen years and enjoys responding to each communities unique needs.
At Creative Explorers, children and their grown ups are invited to engage in creative ways of working, playing, thinking and communicating. This space supports children’s curiosity and interest in learning while fostering greater confidence, connection to others and ability to create and communicate. This program not only exposes children to art making techniques and artists but it allows children to feel supported to explore their creativity and to share their ideas in their day to day life.
Background
Specialising in working with young children and their communities, Verena has gained knowledge through her experience across contemporary theatre, community arts, public programs, installation, facilitation and education.
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She has toured work nationally and internationally with companies as part of arts festivals and programs some of which include... Out of the Box Festival, The Brisbane Writers Festival, Powerhouse Powerkids, Assitej Festival (Seoul, Korea), AHA! Festival (India), ANTI Festival (Finland), Woodford Folk Festival, Bleach Festival (Gold Coast), Melbourne Fringe & Australian Performing Arts Market. Having trained in performance with artists and companies in Australia and abroad Verena has often worked as a performer/devisor or with cultural or educational organisations to deliver public programs, artworks and creative community outcomes. Verena has been an associate artist with Brisbane based Imaginary Theatre since 2009 in a number of roles from creator, performer, educational consultant, facilitator and artist in residence. Between 2012-2020 she was engaged by The State Library of QLD as a program assistant and arts worker for the children and family programs and was also contracted by SLQ to deliver additional specialist projects in her capacity as freelance artist, educational consultant, PD & workshop facilitator, devisor & performer. Verena has gained a diverse range of experience across projects which engage children, young people and their families/ educators with organisations such as The Creche & Kinder Association QLD, The Benevolent Society, Queensland University of Technology, Kurilpa Kindergarten, The Walking Neighbourhood, Secret Hotel (Denmark), Queensland Performing Arts Centre, La Boite Theatre, Polyglot (Melbourne).
With her knowledge in performance, art making, teaching and early years education, she has developed and delivered workshops for adults including PD workshops, educational/ art and play based training for-: teachers, librarians, parents, early childhood educators and students at education conferences/ libraries/ schools and TAFE and has worked as a tutor and project facilitator with tertiary arts students at QUT university. Verena has been engaged as an early years teacher/ educator with Education QLD, The Creche & Kinder Association QLD, the City of Melbourne and various Community houses/ Co-ops settings in Melbourne. After having her son in 2018, Verena developed Creative Explorers, with the goal of providing engaging quality experiences for young children that nurture their creativity and foster a greater sense of connection, community and overall well-being.