Entertainment
8 August, 2023
Teacher awarded
CAIRNS art teacher David Marsden is the winner of a prestigious life membership award for his commitment and outstanding service to arts excellence and education.
His passion for the arts and commitment to arts education has been acknowledged with a life membership award presented among peers at the recent Queensland Art Teachers Association (QATA) Annual State Conference in Brisbane.
With a teaching career in the realm of visual art and design spanning three decades, Mr Marsden is Cairns State High School’s arts head of department and Peninsula Art Educators Association (PAEA) president.
According to QATA, a life membership award is for outstanding service to visual art education in Queensland and is presented annually at the state conference by the QATA committee. Award criteria require the recipient to have made a significant contribution to the advocacy of visual art education in Queensland and be a role model within the profession.
Mr Marsden is the fifth in Queensland to have received a life membership for arts education and said the award was “a complete surprise”.
“I’m really honoured – it’s a big deal to be honoured by your colleagues,” he said.
St Monica’s College art teacher and Artview Gallery and Café owner Leanne Shead nominated Mr Marsden and presented the formal submission.
She said she was thrilled to see Mr Marsden’s dedication, excellence and long-time service rewarded to someone who had created many legacies and made a significant impact in the art space – not just at Cairns State High School but across the region and Queensland.
“A multi-skilled art teacher, David has been involved in the Centre of Artistic Development CAD (Wearable Art) programs, and musical productions, was instrumental in developing the School’s International Baccalaureate Program as IB coordinator for the first two years (2010 and 2011), worked with the BLA (Business Liaison Association) to coordinate the Cairns Show Billboard competition, has always played a role in PAEA, having been in every position, since 2019, its president,” Ms Shead said.
“He is also the engine behind all current PAEA events: Receive and Respond, Refuel, Lottery, ENERGY and more,” Ms Shead said.
While Mr Marsden has been employed at Cairns high for the past 28 years following studies and teaching stints overseas, he carries his love of the arts beyond education and school into creative industries and the community.
He has regularly exhibited at local art galleries, Crate59 and Artview Gallery and Cafe.
