artsbus

AKC artsbus
The artsbus is a mobile arts studio, theatre and music space, enabling AKC to facilitate meaningful, thoughtful and therapeutic arts activities.
Learn more

About the artsbus

The artsbus is a mobile arts studio, theatre and music space, enabling AKC to facilitate meaningful, thoughtful and therapeutic arts activities. It brings quality arts practices to children who would otherwise miss out.

Many children and young people with complex lives find it difficult to access arts activities due to financial hardship, transport issues and other responsibilities . Like a ‘mobile library’, the artsbus travels to children, eliminating issues of access. The artsbus provides a quality, best practice creative opportunities, for those who may otherwise miss-out.

creating arts opportunities for kids and young people...

South melbourne artsbus

A weekly program hosted by AKC for primary school aged children at Park Towers.  This regular program connects kids with artists and offers ongoing opportunities to collaborate on group projects. The South Melbourne artsbus is supported by The City of Port Phillip. 

North Melbourne

Monthly programs hosted by AKC for primary school aged children living in social housing near the North Melbourne Community Centre. This regular program connects kids with artists and offers ongoing opportunities to collaborate on group projects. The North Melbourne artsbus is supported by The City of Melbourne.

School Programs

The artsbus can be booked by schools based in Victoria for a once-off program or workshop series that aligns with AKC's mission.

artsbusTV

Airing on Channel31 and online, artsbusTV is a community arts TV series that showcases creativity from the emerging generation. Facilitated by Artists for Kids Culture, the six episodes feature young hosts, actors and directors aged 10 – 17 years old across Victoria.

Community Events

Since launching in early 2021, the artsbus has been contracted by local government and community organisations for special events. The artsbus can create a mobile studio that is welcoming and engaging for kids, teens and youth. Get in touch with us to learn more and design a program to suit your event.

Murals

The arts are a powerful way to engage children and youth in consultation and public art projects.  The AKC artsbus team can facilitate mural projects   and develop innovative workshops for Councils and organisations seeking to get kids and young people's ideas on issues and local matters.

Get involved

Volunteer with artsbus

With the support of the Arts Bus Program Manager and other artists, Arts Bus volunteers contribute to a safe and supportive learning environment for all children.  Their key role is to provide individual, hands-on and strength-based guidance on artsbus adventures. 

If you are interested in volunteering with the artsbus, please read the Position Description here and apply using the link below.

Artists For Kids’ Culture is committed to child safety and carries out reference checks and police record checks to ensure that the right people are recruited. All people engaged in child-related work as defined in the Working with Children Act 2005, including volunteers, are required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check.

partner with artsbus

Artists for Kids Culture want to share the artsbus across Victoria. Through partnerships, we can run targeted programs and support existing events to bring art to kids who might otherwise miss out. 

Whether you are a school, community group, artist initiative or other organisation, we want to hear your idea! To get started, read more about the artsbus and then complete the Expression of Interest form:

community feedback

“Thank you so much for doing the artsbus for us we have so much fun!"
Mary - age 10
artsbus Participant
"The adults running the program are super nice with the kids. The activities are well planned. I LOVE how kids are given the chance to explore with art. There’s not many places like this (actually it’s the place providing art experiences that we enjoy the most)"
Parent
North Melbourne artsbus program
“I love the work that the artsbus does for our communities. As a resident of Social Housing, I know the barriers that our children have to participating in extracurricular activities and wanted to be part of a program that helps to address this.”
Feature Artist
Contractor for AKC artsbus program
“The artsbus came to Maroondah Festival to offer a free drop-in activity for kids and teens. The set-up was absolutely streamlined and provided a welcoming entry point for young people to get creative. The team were lots of fun and very accessible. We would highly recommend this as an engagement activity for communities”
Jane O'Neill
Public Art Program Lead for Maroondah City Council

Making the AKC artsbus

Our artsbus has been on the road since March 2021. The design of the artsbus was a fun and rewarding experience with many people to thank for their input...

AKC thank: our interior designers, Rachael Leslie and Anton Koch; our builders, Chapman and Bailey; and everyone else who has helped out including Fiona Larwill, Che McMahon and Ruth Krawat from the AKC Committee.

We would like to thank and acknowledge our major supporter, The Collie Foundation.

The Collie Foundation, forever an important player – is enabling AKC to get our artsbus on the road.