How much would you pay for your child’s art? That’s the question Craigslea Community Kindergarten in Brisbane, Australia, posed to dozens of families when it asked them to come up with AUD2,200 ($1,400) for the pleasure of taking home a curated portfolio of their child’s artwork. The folders included many a random blob and splat, alongside happy photos of the would-be Picassos making creations that only a parent could love. Billed as a fundraiser, the debt-ridden center said the money from the portfolios would go towards whittling down a long list of overdue bills, including unpaid wages for teachers. The obscure request sparked anger among parents, with some of the state’s leaders calling it “emotional blackmail.” Regulators conducted an investigation, which ended with the kindergarten closing. As for the parents, their children’s art is now both priceless and free.
