Jordan River Learning Federation Senior School in Bridgewater has launched Kurious Beats, thanks to support from the Tasmanian Community Fund (TCF).

Kurious Beats is an innovative performing arts program that uses music, film and digital storytelling to boost student engagement and break down barriers to education. The program encourages students from Years 7–12 to express themselves through songwriting, recording and video production.

The students collaborated to write an original song, record it using professional equipment and produce a music video. TCF funding helped the school buy recording and filming equipment, lighting and production tools. The Kurious Beats sessions have brought together students from across the school who share a passion for music, film and performance, with the process being student-led. “They came up with the riffs, wrote the lyrics, filmed every scene and made all the creative decisions themselves – that level of ownership is what makes this program so powerful,” said music teacher Jesse Bowden.

“There’s a lot of stigma around our area, but there are so many young people here doing great things,” said Jesse. “I want students to see that they’re more than just a postcode – that they can achieve great things no matter where they go to school.” Kurious Beats will run again in 2026, helping students discover new skills, build confidence and express their creativity.