The 1000 Words - Arts and Literacy program is an exciting schools program developed by Northern Rivers Community Gallery (NRCG).

The comprehensive program harnesses the potential for the arts to improve literacy outcomes - through artistic discussions, creative writing, and vocabulary enrichment.

1000 Words incorporates teacher training, and a series of school based activities prior to a subsidised visit to the gallery for further learning experiences, to meet the artists and see the students own creative writing works exhibited alongside the artwork.

Students engage in hands-on learning such as imaginative writing, letters, plays and poems as well as descriptive and persuasive language activities drawing on original artworks from the Gallery’s annual exhibition program as stimulus. The program asks children to consider “How can a picture tell a thousand words?”.

A highlight of the program for the children is to see their own creative writing and responses showcased beside the artwork on exhibition, and to meet the artists.

Developed in house to run in conjunction with the curriculum by education specialists, the pilot program ran in schools and onsite at the gallery in 2017 and 2018 and was offered to all primary schools in the Northern Rivers. 1,337 primary school children from across the 21 Northern Rivers schools have participated in the program to date, with 90 % of schools having visited a museum or gallery less once in the previous 12 months. 61 Teachers are now registered for the program and 80% of participating schools have now permanently integrated the program in to their curriculum. 

1000 Words program offers the opportunity to :

• enhance your students’ capacities to develop stories through appreciating art as a visual stimulus
• provide a wealth of learning resources
• develop and/or consolidate professional knowledge of both literacy and the arts
• establish professional partnerships within your learning community and local arts network

The 1000 Words program offers a wealth of learning resources, opportunities to develop and/or consolidate professional knowledge of both literacy and the arts as well as establish professional partnerships within your Learning Community and local arts network.

Teachers registered in the program are provided:

• Specialist teacher training on how to get the most out of the program (can be organised on-site at school for 4+ teachers registering in the program)
• Education Kit
• 12 x Literacy Activities
• classroom teaching resources
• Risk Management Plan - School Excursion Form
• NAPLAN Writing Rubric
• Teaching resources: Speech Bubble,  Post Card and Writing Helping Hand
  Education Plan

Registered schools participating in the program that do not have access to student transport may also eligible for subsidised bus transport. Contact the Gallery for further information.

Participating schools include:

For schools who would like more information on participating in the program contact the Gallery Coordinator by phone on 02 6681 6167 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This program is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW