Outrage as Kindergarten Demands Parents Pay Hefty Sum for Children's Artwork

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.

Its obscure request, however, has sparked anger in Queensland, with the state's leader calling it emotional blackmail, regulators staging an intervention, and one parent allegedly going to extreme lengths to take back their child's collection of artworks in the middle of the night.

How the saga unfolded

The controversy has been months in the making, with growing tensions between management and parents at the kindergarten centre about half an hour north of Brisbane.

While affiliated with the state's largest childcare provider, the Creche and Kindergarten Association (C&K), a volunteer committee controlled the centre's operations.

Following a mass resignation, a new management structure faced criticism, leading to funding being paused during an investigation.

In a shocking turn of events, management emailed parents requesting payment for art portfolios amidst their financial troubles, prompting outrage within the community.

With police reportedly involved after a parent attempted to reclaim their child's collection, the situation escalated rapidly.

With thousands voicing their discontent online, government officials, including Queensland’s premier, criticized the kindergarten's actions.

Ultimately, authorities came together to ensure parents received their children’s artistic records at no cost, reaffirming the significance of children's art as priceless and invaluable.