creative and performing arts workshops 2026
Following the success of our first series, the University of Wollongong (UOW) is excited to present the second instalment of our school holiday workshops, designed to ignite creativity and foster skill development among high school students.
Led by UOW academics who are experts in their respective fields, these workshops offer hands-on experiences in creative writing, performance and theatre, journalism, visual arts, and music.
These workshops aim to inspire students and strengthen their connection with the university community, providing a glimpse into the vibrant academic environment at UOW. Register now to attend!
WORKSHOP DETAILS
Registration is now open!
Dates: Wednesday 30 September & Thursday 1 October 2026
Time: 9:00am-3:30pm each day
Location: University of Wollongong - Wollongong Campus
Cost: $100 for a 2-day workshop. Sponsored places are available for eligible students. Find out more below.
Lunch: Price includes light refreshments. Students are asked to pack a lunch or they can purchase from the campus food outlets.
Who can attend? Any students currently in Years 9 and 10
Registration closes: Friday 12 September
workshop descriptions
Click through the workshops below and meet the expert leading each one.
Ever wondered how musicians turn ideas into finished tracks? Across two days, you'll explore songwriting, improvisation, recording and collaborative music-making while experimenting with a range of instruments and music technology. Whether you're already in a band or just curious about creating music, you'll leave with new creative skills and an original piece of music developed with your group. Suitable for students in Years 9 and 10 of all musical backgrounds and experience levels.
Freyja Garbett
Freyja is an ARIA Award-winning pianist, composer, producer, and musical director who performs nationally and internationally, having collaborated with artists including Peter Garrett, The Veronicas, Marina Diamandis, Katie Noonan, Hermitude, and Jorge Drexler, among many others. She has also composed and produced music for video games, including Sowden House with L.A. Noire creator Brendan McNamara, and her forthcoming albums include Music from the Waves (ABC Jazz) and Sowden House. Alongside her performing career, Freyja teaches at the Sydney and Wollongong Conservatoriums and is a passionate advocate for women and gender-diverse musicians through her work with Equity in Jazz.
Passionate about theatre? Step onto the stage for an immersive introduction in devising for performance. Working in UOW’s professional theatre venue, you will explore the foundations of devising through practical activities that combine movement, text, light and sound, to develop and present your own solo and collaborative performance works.
Lisa McDonell
Lisa is a performance maker / director / video / sound artist who creates, presents and tours solo and ensemble works within Australia and internationally. Lisa works with actors and dancers from Merrigong Theatre, WAAPA, Bangarra, and Sydney Dance Company. She has twice been shortlisted for the Australian Ballet / Sydney Opera House / Dance Australia Female Choreographer initiative.
Do you have an ear for news, or have you always dreamt of being on TV? Across two days, you'll learn to identify, pitch, script, and produce news stories, participating in the creation of a live news bulletin in UOW's state-of-the-art radio studio. On the second day, you'll learn to collaborate in a television studio to produce news stories for a live-streamed television segment.
Ben Ball
As a journalist, Ben Ball has helped produce award-winning web documentaries for SBS.com, radio documentaries for ABC Radio National, and print features for publications in Australia, Indonesia, and Colombia. He has also worked as a staff journalist for The Lamp and the South Sydney Herald
Shawn Burns
Shawn Burns has a rich history in journalism, having served as a news director and a federal political advisor. His current research focuses on ensuring people with disabilities are at the heart of media research and have a genuine voice in the process.
Participate in our Observational Drawing Workshop, aimed at developing core skills in accurate visual observation and transcription. This session will focus on refining your ability to analyse form, structure, and composition through careful study of objects and scenes. Guided by experienced instructors, students will explore various techniques to improve precision, shading, and perspective, fostering both technical proficiency and artistic interpretation. This workshop provides an opportunity to deepen understanding of observational practice within a supportive learning environment.
Teo Treloar
Teo Treloar is an exceptional award-winning artist who recently finished a successful exhibition “Tethered” in May this year. Teo has been recognized for his contributions to the visual arts community with awards such as the 2020 Jacaranda Drawing Award, 2024 Kedumba Drawing Award, and is also a finalist in the 2026 Bowness Australian Photography Prize.
Do you love writing and telling stories? Do you have dreams of seeing your work read or performed in front of an audience? Over the course of two days, you’ll cover the basics of writing for the stage as you craft and workshop your own short play.
Luke Johnson
An author of two books, Luke Johnson's poems, stories, essays, and criticism have been widely published and performed across Australia. His work has won or been shortlisted for numerous national prizes, including the Queensland Literary Awards, the AAWP Chapter One Prize, the Elizabeth Jolley Award, the Josephine Ulrick Award, and the Katharine Susannah Prichard Award.
FAQS
Parents/carers will submit a registration on behalf of the student by clicking 'Register Now' above. Registration is now open and will remain open until all spaces in the workshops are full.
Payment is required upon registration (unless you are applying for a sponsored place). Please read our Refund Policy for further information.
Spaces will be filled according to application date. We will reserve a number of sponsored places for students who meet sponsorship requirements outlined below.
Sponsored places are available for students who meet one or more equity criteria listed below. Sponsored places will go to applicants who demonstrate the most need.
To be eligible for a sponsored place, you must meet one or more of the following requirements:
- Experiencing financial hardship
- Live in a rural or remote area
- Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- On a permanent humanitarian visa or have refugee status
- Disability/mental or physical health condition
After you apply, your application for a sponsored place will be assessed and we will notify you of the outcome within 7 days.
If you are not deemed eligible for a sponsored place, you will have the opportunity to pay for your place.
For 2026, we have the following Year 9-10 workshops on offer:
- Journalism
- Visual Arts
- Performance & Theatre
- Creative Writing
- Music
To register more than 1 child for the CAPA workshops, click on the 'Register Now' button and enter your first child's details. When you get to the 'Additional People' page, use the 'Add Another Child' button to register your second child. Once you have entered in your second child's details you can add another child to your registration, or use the 'Continue' button to finalise your registration.
If you have any issues, please contact our team at future-events@uow.edu.au for assistance.
Please contact our team at future-events@uow.edu.au for assistance.