Parents Outraged Over Kindergarten's $2,200 Art Portfolio Request

Mon Oct 20 2025 23:16:01 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A Queensland kindergarten's request for parents to pay thousands for their children's art has sparked controversy and a midnight heist.

In an unusual fundraising effort, a kindergarten in Queensland, Australia, asked parents to pay A$2,200 for a portfolio of their children's artwork, including doodles and photos. This request, viewed by many as emotional manipulation, ignited a public outcry and led to dramatic events, including a parent's alleged attempt to reclaim their child’s art under the cover of night. With accusations of poor management and financial instability, the situation has prompted investigation by regulators and a statement from the Education Department affirming parents' rights to their children’s works.

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 - tensions between management and parents at the kindergarten centre, located about half an hour north of Brisbane, have been steadily brewing this year.

It's a community-run centre affiliated with one of the state's largest childcare providers, the Creche and Kindergarten Association (C&K). While the latter helps distribute government funding, the day-to-day operations of the centre were 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, vice-president and secretary, leaving its treasurer, Thomas D'Souza, to take over. The new management fired existing staff and hired temporary workers, prompting many parents to remove their kids from the centre.

On Sunday night, families received an email addressing a tumultuous few weeks. The lengthy missive said the centre couldn't pay its debts and had entered voluntary administration. Hours later, another message revealed a plan to sell the children's art portfolios for thousands a piece.

The request left Brooke, one of the parents at the centre, speechless. It's ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. I don't even really have words for it, she told A Current Affair. She added that when she decided to take the artwork without paying, the centre reported her to police.

Queensland Police confirmed that they are investigating reports of an alleged midnight break-and-enter at the kindergarten.

Amid public backlash, thousands weighed in on social media. Queensland's premier blasted the request as un-Australian and wrong on so many levels.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education reassured parents of their legal right to access their children's works. A successful recovery operation launched by C&K retrieved the children's collections and confirmed that parents would not be charged for their portfolios.

For these parents, their children's art is now both priceless and free.