LIA Program
About LIA
The mission of the Lowanna Institute of the Arts (LIA) is to ignite and nurture creative passion and artistic excellence among students by offering a dynamic, interdisciplinary program that bridges visual arts, music and drama. The LIA Program is all about fostering leadership, collaboration and excellence in the arts. It integrates visual, performing and dramatic arts into a dynamic, collaborative learning environment. Through rigorous, merit-based training and engagement with the local community, students are empowered to refine their skills, express their creativity and develop leadership qualities. LIA prepares them for long-term success, grounding them in academic rigor while encouraging passion for lifelong learning and artistic innovation.
Why choose LIA?
The Lowanna Institute of the Arts (LIA) is a merit-based program dedicated to passionate, creative students in Years 9-10. Our program provides specialised training in music, visual arts, and drama while fostering leadership and collaboration. This program is aimed at students who want to succeed in The Arts and those who are interested in a career in the creative field.
Our values
Our application process relies heavily on whether students can display the college values of respect, integrity, determination, growth, and excellence.
The school values are the foundation for the rubric for auditions/interviews. We suggest that students become familiar with the key questions to help them prepare for the interview. The rubric ensures that students of varying levels of skill have the opportunity to participate in the program. Passion and leadership skills in the arts are equally as important as artistic skills in specialist areas. More information about this can be found in the Information Pack.
| Key Question | 1 – Unsatisfactory | 2 – Satisfactory | 3 – Good | 4 – Excellent | |
| Respect | How do you show respect for others while working in a group? | Struggles to articulate the importance of respect; may show signs of dismissiveness or lack of teamwork. | Understands respect in theory but provides minimal examples of practicing it in an arts setting. | Clearly values respect, provides relevant examples of working well with others. | Strong advocate for respect, demonstrates leadership in fostering a positive, inclusive environment. |
| Integrity | Can you describe a time when you faced a challenge in your arts practice and how you handled it? (Could also be a life challenge) | Avoids responsibility, lacks self-awareness or accountability. | Provides a basic example but does not clearly connect it to personal growth or ethics. | Shows a strong understanding of integrity with a clear example of overcoming a challenge honestly. | Exemplifies high ethical standards, demonstrating resilience and honesty in their artistic journey. |
| Determination | What are your artistic goals, and how do you plan to achieve them? Why do you wish to apply for this program? | Lacks clear goals or direction, struggles to articulate how they want to improve or participate in the arts. | Has some goals, but lacks a clear plan or commitment to the arts. | Shows a clear vision for their development with thoughtful steps toward participation and involvement in the program. | Demonstrates a strong commitment to continuous learning, self-reflection, and the artistic community at Lowanna. |
| Growth | How do you respond to setbacks or feedback in your arts/music practice? | Struggles to handle setbacks, may react negatively to feedback. | Accepts feedback but does not always act on it or push through challenges. | Uses feedback constructively, demonstrates persistence in improving their craft through reflective practice. | Thrives on challenges, consistently seeks ways to improve and grow through feedback and reflection. |
| Excellence (Skill in the Arts Area) | Can you describe or demonstrate your skills in your chosen art form? | Limited experience, lacks fundamental skills, and struggles to articulate their artistic practice. | Shows basic ability with some understanding of their art form but needs further development. | Displays strong technical ability and creative expression with clear potential. | Demonstrates outstanding skill, originality, and a deep understanding of their art form. |
Our Team
Heather Snowdon
Phil Berends
Lauren Bragagnolo
Miles Eddy
Zac Godwin
Joe Licciardello
Joseph Bonnici
Tina Thompson
Ramayer Gourley
Facilities
Lowanna College is uniquely adapted with the facilities, spaces and resources to run a collaborative merit-based arts program. The college boasts the largest school auditorium in the area, with over 575 seats, ideal for large scale productions and events. In the visual arts, the school has a dedicated ceramics room, two kilns, a photography room, dark room, and a visual communication room. The music department has two well-equipped rooms with new keyboards and drum kits as well as four practice and small instruction spaces.
Friends of LIA
Friends of LIA is our productive partnership between parents, staff, students, and the broader arts community. We are committed to becoming a hub for visual and performing arts in Gippsland and our Friends of LIA can help us achieve this. If you would like to become part of our Friends of LIA community, please email lowanna.co@education.vic.gov.au
Application Form
To apply to be part of this exciting and fulfilling program, please click the below link: https://forms.office.com/r/GnN4tf32cD
Audition Information
Refer to our Information Pack for information on the application process.
Program Costs
Refer to our Information Pack for information on the costs associated with LIA.