Visual arts
The art room is a very different space from other spaces in the school. Stacked with sketchbooks, jars with pencils, paintbrushes and sinks splattered with paint, the art room is a space where students have the freedom to express their ideas and thoughts. The way art is taught means that interaction with other students and with the teacher is different in the art class. Students’ feedback mentions the bonds they form with their art teacher and classmates because of their shared interests and ideas.
Learning through and about visual arts enriches the experience of studying while at school as well as preparing students for life after school. Visual arts encourages self-expression and creativity which builds confidence as well as a sense of individual identity. Studying visual arts also helps to develop critical thinking and the ability to interpret and respond to the world around us.
Visual arts provides the opportunity to acquire new skills, work with your hands, and experiment with different art forms, media and techniques. Art lessons include teaching functional and useful skills that prepare students for their future careers, like the development of a portfolio, time management skills and working according to a project brief (to name a few). Our art department also works hard to forge links with arts organisations and creative practitioners, so that our students are afforded the opportunity to enter art competitions and take part in creative internships and festivals.
Visual arts are currently taught by Mrs Joni Jones. Mrs Jones has been teaching at Collegiate since July 2022 having previously taught at Pretoria Boys High School for 11 years. She studied Visual Art at UCT’s Michaelis School of Art and also did an honours degree in Psychology. Mrs Jones is passionate about art discourse, art education and the arts' ability to improve one’s general well-being and self-actualisation.
