No ‘Picassos’: Brisbane childcare centre demands parents donate $2.2k for children’s artworks

A struggling Queensland childcare centre is holding children’s artwork to ransom unless parents cough up a $2200 donation.

Craigslea Kindergarten & Preschool at Chermside West, in Brisbane’s north, sent an email home to parents demanding thousands of dollars in return for their child’s art portfolio to help pay for kindy debts.

Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission records show the centre was more than $46,000 in the red last financial year.

But the outrageous request was met with disdain by parents, with one mum allegedly reported to police for stealing when she took her child’s artwork home.

A parent who wished to remain anonymous told NewsWire they were shocked to receive an email on Sunday saying the centre was insolvent.

She said Monday’s email told parents their kid’s artwork portfolio would be auctioned off for the sum of $2200 to make up for an apparent deficit.

“It is just unbelievable, we thought how is this even real?” the parent said.

“We just keep getting hit with these outlandish stories.”

The parent said the centre closed three weeks before the school holidays started and parents went there to try TO retrieve their children’s belongings.

She said some parents were allowed in and one took her child’s portfolio, then heard she was reported for break and enter.

“All of the locks have been changed, people aren’t allowed in and blackout film is on all the windows so no one can see in,” she said.

Police confirmed they were investigating reports of a break and enter at the Marban St centre.

“No one was inside the business at the time of the incident,” a spokesman said.

Premier David Crisafulli appeared on national television on Tuesday, describing the centre’s request as a desperate attempt at emotional blackmail.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been in that position. Now, I never saw any Picassos come home, that’s for sure, but they mean something to you. It’s special. It’s an achievement,” the premier told Today of the children’s artworks.

“I just think it’s wrong on so many levels. So come on, there are better things to be worried about at the moment. Let’s give the kids their finger painting and let’s get on with life.

“It’s important that the parents get the opportunity to take them home.”

The centre operates is managed by a volunteer committee and receives support from not-for-profit group C&K Childcare and Kindergarten, which acts as the governing body.

Both the centre and C&K have been contacted for comment about the donation request, but the Department of Education confirmed that parents must be provided with documentation about their child on request under national regulations.

“The department is aware of communication sent to families in relation to participating in a fundraising activity that involves children’s portfolios,” a spokesman said.

“There is no requirement in relation to paying a fee for documentation, such as portfolios.”