John Curtin becomes college of the arts

5/4/00
Western Australia's first college of the arts in the State Government education system has been officially opened.
Education Minister Colin Barnett today opened the John Curtin College of the Arts in Fremantle.
Mr Barnett said the move would strengthen the school's programs in dance and drama and develop further programs in the performing arts arena while maintaining strong academic TEE programs as the core of its educational activities.
"This is an historic occasion, not only for John Curtin but also for arts education Statewide," Mr Barnett said.
"The college is the first of its kind in Western Australia providing students throughout the State with the opportunity to participate in a specialised integrated arts program."
Mr Barnett said the change from John Curtin Senior High School to John Curtin College of the Arts was the result of a local area education planning recommendation.
He said the college catered for a wide range of students wanting to specialise in the arts.
"This college, through its programs, will ensure high quality graduates entering the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and other tertiary arts institutions," Mr Barnett said.
"More than 60 per cent of the students are enrolled in the arts programs of dance, drama, ballet, music, theatre and arts media.
"Curtin is unique from other art-based colleges in that it takes an arts infused approach to learning - a cross curriculum approach which does not just favour arts."
Mr Barnett said John Curtin Senior High School had been a leader in arts education since 1974 through the efforts of then Director General of Education Dave Mossenson and then Superintendent John Down who was given the task to establish the original specialist programs of ballet and drama at the school.
The history of John Curtin Senior high School goes back to the opening of the Fremantle Free Grammar School in 1846 with 40 pupils.
This was a co-educational school which later became Fremantle Boys' School and Princess May Girls' School.
These schools served the community well until the burgeoning population of Fremantle in the post war years prompted the Government to construct a new school. It was named after John Curtin, Australia's Prime Minister during World War II.
John Curtin Senior High School opened in 1956 and today has more than 1000 students.

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