Perth Modern students volunteer to paint 7m mural at Studio 64 early learning centre

After almost six years a South Perth early learning centre has come to life with a 7m hand-painted mural thanks to student volunteers from Perth Modern School.

Since 2018, about 20 talented Perth Modern students — under the guidance of their art teacher Sarah Eve — have spent their Saturdays slowly transforming Studio 64 Early Learning Centre’s brick wall into a kaleidoscope of colours inspired by the picturesque skyline of the South Perth foreshore.

The mural was completed late last year.

Whilst the mural draws inspiration from the Swan River, Studio 64 centre manager Chanele Duscher described the artwork as a “great representation” of the Studio 64 community.

“We often bundle the children into prams and they go for lovely scenic walks along the foreshore and they would come back talking about everything they saw,” Ms Duscher said.

“So we took all of that information and then collaborated with Sarah and the Perth Modern students to put together art pieces to capture the children’s input.

“They (Ms Eve and the Perth Modern students) would put forward their proposal and we’d sit down with the children and show them and they would give feedback on it.

“It’s true to life as much as possible but there’s also kangaroos and things you might not necessarily see on the Swan River, but it is a really great representation of South Perth and our community.”

First open in 2016, Studio 64 is an early learning and kindergarten centre which provides a “first of its kind” co-working space for parents and carers.

In 2022 Studio 64 opened a second centre in Lathlain.

“(It is) the first of its kind in Australia in the sense that we have a philosophy that focuses on supporting the busy family household so it’s quite unique,” Ms Duscher said.

“It’s got an office space for families and community members that they can utilise upstairs . . . we do children’s haircuts and different ideas to try and make things easy for busy families.”

The new artwork has inspired an entire cohort of children to become budding artists, but Ms Duscher says creativity is part of the Studio 64 ethos.

“While the finished product was done by high school students, our curriculum means that we have to try to embrace the children’s interests too and that’s why we’ve created this,” she said.

“When the kids would come in on the Monday and see the finished product they would want to get out their little paint brushes, so we would just put out water so they would feel like little artists as well.

“Lately what we’ve been doing is taking easels so they can be little artists themselves, so it’s kind of inspired them to be creative and artistic.”