Last night our Year 9 students showcased their incredible creative responses to current events at Artivism, raising money for The Big Issue’s Street Soccer program. The RMC was transformed into a festival space with music, fairy lights and food. 

Families ate food made by students, bid on the amazing pieces at our student art exhibition, bought student-made merchandise including slogan t-shirts, key rings with uplifting messages, coasters and posters, and enjoyed a student-created playlist of political songs.

During the main stage event, we heard from Tania Patston from The Big Issue who explained the many programs her organisation has to help address homelessness. Our slam poets wowed us with their words of vulnerability and strength. We saw the process of creating the new “Joy” mural, and watched the student-created documentary on the journey of the Year 9 Boys’ Softball team winning this year’s championship. We heard about the importance of ideas in art from Chinese dissident artist Badiucao and we listened to an original anti-war composition by the Year 9 Artivism band.

Overall it was a phenomenal night showcasing the intersection of creativity, tikun olam, and learning that Nitzan embodies. Kol HaKavod to our students and to the Year 9 teachers and mentors for this wonderful event.