Australian kindergarten asks parents to pay thousands for their children’s art

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.

“It is our turn to talk,” the email said, according to the A Current Affair programme on the Nine network.

The lengthy missive said the centre couldn’t pay its debts and had entered voluntary administration.

Hours later, another message landed, revealing a plan to sell the children’s art portfolios for thousands a pop, and asking any parents opposed to that to email back.

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.

Though it is unclear whether they are referencing the same incident, Queensland Police told the BBC it had received reports of an alleged midnight break-and-enter at the kindergarten about a fortnight ago, and was investigating.

The kindergarten management did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment.

But the saga has prompted public backlash, with thousands weighing in on social media and the state’s premier blasting the request as “un-Australian” and “wrong on so many levels”.

“I never saw any Picassos come home, that’s for sure. But they mean something to you,” David Crisafulli said of his own kids’ early crafts, on Nine’s Today programme.

“Let’s give the kids their finger painting and let’s get on with life.”