Outrage in Queensland: Kindergarten's Controversial Art Sale Leads to Heist

How much would you pay for your child's art?

That's the question one Australian kindergarten posed to dozens of families this week when it asked them to stump up A$2,200 (£1,000; $1,400) for the pleasure of taking home a curated portfolio of their child's artwork.

The folders included many a random blob and splodge, alongside happy snaps of the would-be Picassos making creations only a parent could love.

Billed as a fundraiser, the debt-ridden centre said the money from the portfolios would go towards whittling down a long list of overdue bills, including unpaid wages for educators.

Craigslea Community Kindergarten and Preschool in Brisbane closed last month after funding was halted amid an investigation into claims about its governance.

How the saga unfolded

The controversy has been months in the making - tensions between management and parents at the kindergarten centre have been steadily brewing this year.

It's a community-run centre affiliated with one of the state's largest childcare providers. While the latter helps distribute government funding, the day-to-day operations of the centre have been controlled by a volunteer committee made up of parents and community members.

That committee was gutted last month when a dispute led to the mass resignation of its president and other key members, leaving the treasurer to take over the helm.

The new management fired existing staff and hired temporary workers, leading many parents to remove their kids from the centre.

Parents lodged complaints about the management's operations, prompting the childcare association to suspend funding pending an investigation.

On Sunday night, the inboxes of the families with children at the kindergarten pinged with an email from management wanting to address a tumultuous few weeks.

Hours later, another message revealed a plan to sell the children's art portfolios for thousands a pop, leaving parents shocked.

Brooke, one of the parents, stated, It's ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. I don't even really have words for it. She claimed that when she attempted to take the artwork back without paying, the centre reported her to police.

Authorities have confirmed they are investigating reports of a midnight break-and-enter at the kindergarten linked to parents claiming back their children’s artwork.

The saga has provoked public backlash, with thousands taking to social media to voice their opinions. The state's premier condemned the demands as un-Australian. A representative of the Department of Education has reminded parents of their legal rights regarding their children’s artwork.

Following the uproar, the Department confirmed that the children's portfolios were successfully retrieved and are now available for families to collect.

C&K has issued a statement condemning any practices involving charging parents for the portfolios, emphasizing their value to families.

For these parents, the antics surrounding their children's art have now turned into a story of chaos, controversy, and a happy ending as their kids' legacy remains both priceless and free.