Sixteen Year 9 and 10 students travelled to the United States during school holidays for a dynamic Creative Arts experience. Guided by Stephen Pace Assistant Head of English and Aisling Power Head of Year 8 and English Teacher, the group touched down in the country on 28 June, ready for an exciting fortnight exploring two of America’s most culturally rich cities, Chicago and New York.
The Creative Arts Tour was meticulously designed to align with the key learning areas of English, Visual Arts and Drama. Through carefully curated activities and excursions, students had the opportunity to explore and engage with diverse artistic expressions.
Exploring Chicago’s Creative Core
Their journey began in Chicago, a city famous for its deep artistic roots and vibrant creative scene. The group quickly delved into this energy, starting with an improv workshop at the legendary Second City Chicago. As the training ground for comedy greats like Tina Fey, Steve Carell and Bill Murray, Second City offered a thrilling first-hand glimpse into the world of performance. The group later returned to the same venue to see Best Kept Secret: Tell Everyone, a sharp and hilarious live show that showcased the skills of Chicago’s best up-and-coming comedic talent.
Art and literature were key themes of the Chicago leg of the trip. Students explored the acclaimed Art Institute of Chicago on a self-guided tour, taking in iconic works and soaking up the museum’s vast and diverse collection. At Grant Park, they encountered Cloud Gate – affectionately known as “The Bean” – one of the city’s most famous public artworks and a perfect photo opportunity.
A visit to the American Writers Museum included time for individual exploration and a special poetry-themed experience, offering insight into the power of the written word in shaping American culture.
Creativity continued to flourish during a multi-day writing workshop at StoryStudio Chicago. Here, students read aloud examples of fiction and nonfiction, took part in generative writing exercises, and workshopped their own pieces in a professional studio environment. The experience encouraged collaboration and creative risk-taking, allowing students to express themselves and hone their craft.
The group also visited Lincoln Park, where they enjoyed the scenic North Avenue Beach, and spent time at the Museum of Contemporary Art, where they took an audio-guided tour through cutting-edge exhibitions. A “sit and create” session allowed students time to reflect and respond artistically to the city around them. Their final night in Chicago was marked by a powerful performance of You Will Get Sick at the renowned Steppenwolf Theatre Company, known for its bold and compelling productions.
Exploring the Heart of the Arts in New York
On 2 July, the group travelled to New York City, ready to dive into another rich program of artistic exploration. Their adventures began with a walk through the Financial District, taking in landmarks like the New York Stock Exchange, en route to the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Here, students attended a Broadway acting workshop, developing skills in character development, stage presence and technique in an authentic rehearsal setting.
At Ripley-Grier Studios, the group participated in a fast-paced Broadway Experience workshop led by a professional actor. Through improvisation games and exercises, they honed their spontaneity, creativity and collaboration – core skills in theatre.
Broadway magic continued with a behind-the-scenes workshop, Making of a Broadway Show, where students explored the technical elements of theatre, including style, tone, artistic direction and set design. They created vision boards and pitched creative ideas, learning what it takes to bring a theatrical production to life.
The group also had the chance to see not one, but two Broadway performances: the highly anticipated musical SMASH, and the darkly comedic Death Becomes Her, bringing classroom concepts vividly to life.
Between workshops and shows, the students explored many of New York’s most iconic locations. A Hudson River sightseeing cruise offered sweeping skyline views and insight into the city’s geography and history. At Madison Square Garden, students took in the energy of one of the world’s most famous arenas. They visited the Guggenheim Museum and the Whitney Museum of American Art, each providing a deep dive into modern and contemporary art through self-guided tours.
The city’s green spaces and urban design were also highlights. The group walked the High Line, passed The Vessel at Hudson Yards, and spent time on Little Island, a unique floating park. A guided tour of Central Park with a local expert offered a deeper understanding of its design and cultural significance, while a visit to Battery Park included another “sit and create” session, this time with stunning views of the Statue of Liberty.
New York’s architectural grandeur was explored on foot, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art down the iconic 5th Avenue, to the Rockefeller Center, where students admired its Art Deco details and famous sculptures. At the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), they encountered works by artists who have defined the 20th and 21st centuries.
The final days of the trip focused on screenwriting at The Barrow Group, where students engaged in an intensive workshop beginning with an overview of script analysis and storytelling techniques. Using short films as a reference, they brainstormed ideas, built characters and structure and left with first drafts of their own short screenplays.
The Creative Arts tour gave students a chance to perform, write and explore major artworks. As the group returned to Sydney, they carried with them not just souvenirs, but confidence, new skills and a deeper understanding of the creative world they are ready to shape.
Special thanks to Aisling Power Head of Year 8 and Stephen Pace Assistant Head of English who supported and supervised the students throughout the trip, and to Rita Morabito Director of Dramatic Arts whose vision and planning was instrumental in bringing this rich creative experience to life.
