Protest

Centring on New Zealand painting from the late 18th century to today, The Fletcher Trust Collection offers a rich resource for learning and inspiration. This unit introduces ākonga to artworks created in and reflecting Aotearoa New Zealand, offering deeper insight into the pieces, the artists behind them, and their broader cultural, historical, and thematic contexts.

Designed for ākonga in Years 7–10 (Curriculum Levels 3–6), the unit explores the theme of Protest through three artworks from the Collection. It considers how artists use their artwork as a tool to protest against real-world issues they feel passionate about. Students will engage in observation, discussion, critical thinking, and art-making to consider the role of art in protest and how visual forms can convey political messages.

While primarily aligned with the Visual Arts learning area, this resource also supports learning in English and the Social Sciences, demonstrating how art can be a powerful cross-curricular tool. It has been designed as an adaptable toolkit, allowing teachers to select and customise materials to suit their classroom needs. Key sections are structured to be easily extractable as handouts for direct student use.