Engage students differently
PICA’s inclusive gallery setting supports open discussion, reflection and experimentation. Our 2025 program of exhibitions and artists-in-residence offers the very best of local, Australian and international contemporary arts.  

Interdisciplinary, Interactive, Immersive
Spanning visual and media arts, performance and participatory art, our 2025 program gives students a chance to explore and respond to artworks that are not accessible in the classroom. Forge cross-curricula links between the Arts, HASS, Technologies and Languages by engaging with boundary-crossing artwork. 

Embrace Cultures, Broaden Horizons
Deepen students’ intercultural understanding by exploring the perspectives of artists from diverse backgrounds. Our 2025 exhibitions present cultural narratives from worldwide settings – Australian, Aboriginal, French, Philippine and Iranian. The studio residency exchange brings over 30 artists from Taipei, Makassar, and Paris to PICA.  

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
Nurture respect for the world’s oldest continuous cultures and the unique contributions of First Nations people. In 2025 PICA is excited to present the Revealed showcase of new and emerging WA Aboriginal artists, along with a major new commission by Amanda Bell. Revealing Indigenous knowledge, artists address colonisation, the power of language and connection to Country. 

Curriculum Insights

Learn about how exhibitions at PICA in 2025 connect with the curriculum and help achieve learning goals and standards. 

Plan an Excursion

Customised gallery experience
Plan an excursion that achieves learning goals, connects with curriculum content and is responsive to the strengths and needs of students. Tours, workshops and activities can be customised to your class.  

Behind-the-scenes insights
Learn from artists and arts workers to demystify professional practice. Explore the tools, techniques and materials to create and present artwork during excursions. Book a time for your class to visit studio artists or to speak with our team about gallery operations, curation and audience engagement. 

Build Capabilities to Thrive
Unlock students’ potential by developing skills for the future, such as critical and creative thinking, and ethical and intercultural understanding.  PICA’s exhibitions foster empathy and acceptance of diverse identities. Our activities for students are designed to foster resilience, confidence, self-awareness and social connections. Students can express themselves in the PICA Hub using free art materials in creative activities to inspire and empower. 

Connect with the curriculum
Excursions to PICA support students to learn about specific content in the Australian Visual Arts curriculum, while extending learning across The Arts, Languages, HASS and Technologies curriculum. During gallery visits, students explore and respond to ways that: 

• visual conventions, processes and materials are used to represent ideas and perspectives in artworks created across cultures and contexts (AC9AVA6E01; AC9AVA8E01) 

• artists across cultures and contexts develop personal expression to communicate or challenge ideas and perspectives (AC9AVA10E01) 

• First Nations Australian artists celebrate and challenge perspectives and ideas of Australian identity (AC9AVA10E02) 

Address cross-curricula priorities
PICA platforms First Nations and culturally diverse voices that seek to build positive relationships with communities and the natural world. Consistent with national standards to improve learning outcomes by ‘closing the gap’ between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their non-Indigenous peers, this also develops the values and worldview necessary for students to contribute to more sustainable ways of living.

To Make a Booking 
Contact PICA’s Learning & Access Manager, Jenn Garland at jenn.garland@pica.org.au. 

In Gallery Workshops for Students

Hands-on Learning with artists
Connect students with artists at PICA to jump-start creative assignments and develop skills and practices. Free guided tours and creative learning activities can now be extended through hands-on workshops led by artists, or studio visits with artists-in-residence.  

Increasing access and participation
PICA is proud to waive fees for student workshops as part of our pay-it-forward system, supporting students and educators experiencing financial barriers.  

Professional Learning for Teachers

Professional engagement and knowledge: Culturally responsive teaching and contemporary Aboriginal Art practice 

Educators are invited to participate in a professional learning and community network forum to broaden their knowledge of contemporary Aboriginal Art practice in WA. The event will unpack the techniques used by First Nations Australian artists in the Revealed showcase to express cultural identity and challenge concepts and histories of Australia. Covering topics of cultural and intellectual property, the forum will address teaching strategies that develop an understanding of and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and languages and are responsive to students’ community settings and linguistic backgrounds. 

Dates: Term 1 School holiday (Thursday 17 April) 

Professional engagement and knowledge: Creating & Presenting Installation artworks with students
Educators can get behind-the-scenes insights from artists and PICA’s team about creating and presenting installation works. Exploring the tools, techniques and materials to help students scale up and create immersive artworks. The discussion will cover gallery operations, including the curation and audience engagement of installation works. Arts workers will share practical tips and techniques about the display, transportation, tools, safe practices and documentation of installation art. 

Dates: Term 3 School holiday (Sunday Oct 4)