Following the success of the student exhibition in 2010, the event, aptly named Beyond the Classroom, showcases work and performances of local Victorian Certificate of Education students studying the arts.

Students studying drama, design and technology, studio art, visual communications and theatre studies from Lavalla and Traralgon colleges were selected to display or perform their work in a professional exhibition.

Latrobe Performing Arts education officer Eloisa Tripodi said the exhibition gave the students a chance to display their talents and skills to the local audience.

"Our hope is that even though they may go off and study in a metropolitan area, they come back to the Valley and find out what is going on in the arts and the opportunities that are here," Ms Tripodi said.

"We really need to encourage what the students are passionate about.

"This exhibition is an education program at Latrobe Performing Arts Centre, it's an opportunity for VCE students that studied an arts subject, performing or visual, to come along and exhibit their work as a celebration of the end of VCE."

Schools are invited to nominate students to exhibit their work, and through a selection process LPAC art education officers invite artists to exhibit.

"(Once nominated) students come in and go through their folio with us and talk about their inspiration," Ms Tripodi said.

"We then try and get as much variety of artwork and performances for the exhibition."

Students constructed their pieces throughout the school year, and are exhibiting their final assessed pieces.

Performer Breanna Albanese from Lavalla Catholic College said she was nervous for opening night but excited to present 12 months of hard work to friends and family.

Ms Albanese presented a monologue of a washing machine, which evolved from her year 12 stimulus material which focused on household appliances,

She said the five minute satire performance focused on the rhythm of the machine and dialogue was constructed to represent the history and future of appliances.

Monash University Caulfield student Andrew Roberts is showcasing a series of works, Solitary, in his own exhibition Years Beyond the Classroom, which he completed as part of his photography studies last year.

Beyond the Classroom is being held at Latrobe Performing Arts Centre in Traralgon and will continue until Friday, 30 March. For more information phone Latrobe Performing Arts box office on 5176 3559.