Learners leave their mark: Inclusive Art Project at Altena Primary School

Learners leave their mark: Inclusive Art Project at Altena Primary School

6 November 2025

Altena Primary School in Strand recently came alive with colour, creativity and community spirit as learners, teachers, parents and volunteers joined forces for a vibrant mural makeover.

This inspiring initiative was led by Mieke Hall, a Visual Communication Design lecturer at Stellenbosch University, as part of her PhD research into inclusive classroom environments. Hall chose Altena Primary as a case study after noticing that, despite its modern infrastructure, the school’s walls didn’t mirror the cultural backgrounds of its learners.

To change that, Hall facilitated a series of art lessons where learners imagined characters and scenes that represent the school values. These drawings became the blueprint for a collaborative mural project, with final illustrations traced onto the walls and painted by the community during a joyful paint day.

The result? A school courtyard bursting with colour, personality and pride. Learners were delighted to see their own ideas transformed into colourful artworks that now brighten their daily environment.

Through this project, Hall and Altena Primary School hope to inspire more schools to critically consider their visual and classroom environments, encouraging designs that reflect learners’ diverse cultural backgrounds and the broader South African context. By creating spaces where children’s identities are represented and celebrated, schools can foster a greater sense of belonging and inclusion.