Art teacher Ian Hale doesn’t do things by halves and nor do his students.

“I make sure when they come here every bit of equipment is the best in the world,” Mr Hale says.

“They use the same etching techniques that Rembrandt used. They print with paper that comes from France, it’s all 100 per cent cotton rag paper. The ink comes from Spain or France – it will last 400 years.

“What I want here is a complete professional studio that would match expectations of any artist. My expectations with the kids are just the same; ‘You must do your best. If you’ve done your best and there is nothing more to do then you’re a winner’.

”The students Mr Hale is referring to are his latest batch of protégés – budding young artists from Glenfield Public School who have been selected to take part in the South Western Sydney region Gifted and Talented Primary School Program, which operates out of Fairfield High School.

Encouraged by former Fairfield High principal Bob Dunne, Mr Hale initiated the program about three years ago as part of his role as the school’s resident artist.

About 370 Year 3 to 6 students from 22 primary schools attend the program once a week for four weeks and those students showing additional promise are invited to extension classes held every Friday fortnight or during holidays.

“The main thing I want to do is build their creativity,” Mr Hale says. “I really believe we have to elevate the concept of creativity and put it on a status along with literacy and numeracy, because to compete in a global environment we need creative thinkers in all fields.”

Mr Hale, who was a Higher School Certificate art marker for 20 years, says the students are chosen on a simple criterion: “The kids who are demonstrating artistic skill or showing a potential for artistic skill,” he says. “If I see a child that is attempting something that may be different – very difficult, not quite coming off but using their imagination and creativity in a very adventurous way – I will pay that.”

Mr Hale supervises the students along with a group of Year 7 and 8 students who act as mentors. Over the year about 90 mentors work on the program. Some belong to Fairfield High’s gifted and talented program while others want the opportunity to work with younger students or simply need a bit of extra support and learning focus.

The mentors assist Mr Hale with the primary students’ initial testing, present information sessions to the younger students and work with them on their projects.

“The other thing I ask [the mentors] to do is note any student who stands out in their point of view, which gives mentors the responsibility of feeling part of the process there because this whole environment is based on ‘we all own it’ and ‘it’s all part of us’,” Mr Hale says.

“It’s a hard call for a 12-year-old to sometimes give instructions to other students who are not much younger than them. That’s just a leadership thing and getting kids to think on their feet.”

A belief in their talent is the best skill Mr Hale believes he can teach his students. He says his motivation for pursuing a career in art was inspired by his fourth class teacher in 1960 – Mrs McLeod from Daceyville Public School.

“She wrote one thing on the report: ‘He’s got great artistic talent’ and that was it,” he says.

“When they come here I tell them that they’re young artists. I also tell them that somebody came into their lives and picked them solely on their artistic ability and not on any recommendation. In years they’ll come to remember that somebody … recognised their talent.”

Actor Toni Collette, Mr Hale’s former student from Blacktown Girls High School and the program’s patron, is another case in point.

As part of her Academy Award nomination in 2000 for The Sixth Sense, Ms Collette was required to write a speech. She later told Mr Hale she had acknowledged his belief in her as part of the reason for her success.

“I love teaching – it really means a lot to me,” Mr Hale says. “You’re just part of that little journey for a while. It’s all about sowing seeds. If they are positive seeds they will come to fruition.

“Teachers just don’t know the impact they have on people’s lives.”