A gritty theatre project which focuses on the issues and challenges of being ‘young in Ballarat’ has attracted funding from the Federal Government’s Regional Arts Fund.
Described as ‘ambitious and innovative’ the GRIT project involves nine young mothers from the Ballarat Secondary College Link Up Program and a dozen members of Ballarat’s Mayte youth theatre, working together to create new works based on their own stories and experiences.
The GRIT project is a partnership between the City of Ballarat and Platform Youth Theatre. It is part of VicHealth’s innovative LEAP program (Localities Enhancing Arts Participation), which uses arts and cultural activities to increase participation and decrease social isolation.
The City of Ballarat is the lead council of the Central Highlands LEAP program which also involves Ararat, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Moorabool and Pyrenees Shire Councils. It is one of three pilot projects being run around the state over a three year period, aimed at determining what benefits participating in the arts have on health. The participating councils will work with VicHealth and the School of Population Health at the University of Melbourne to design, record and evaluate the program’s success.
The participants meet each week to rehearse and develop their material, ahead of their public performances during the school holidays early in October. Four performances in Ballarat will be followed by regional workshops and presentations..
The Ballarat participants are working with professionals from the Melbourne-based Platform Youth Theatre Company who will help them develop their skills, and to develop and deliver ‘gritty, relevant and real stories that capture the issues and challenges of being young in Ballarat’.
The federal funding was announced by the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development, Local Government and the Arts, the Hon Simon Crean.
MAYTE is a youth theatre group that was established in 1999 by Her Majesty’s Theatre (City of Ballarat). Its aim is to improve access and involvement in the performing arts for young people. Over its history it has undertaken a range of workshops and productions, primarily adaptations. This project would extend their skills, link them in to the local area and encourage them to tell their own stories.
Link-up mums group are young mums who are supported to continue their education on Tuesdays & Thursdays from the Wendouree West Neighbourhood House & Learning Centre and are provided with a range of activities to encourage their educational and engagement opportunities.
Platform Youth Theatre, based in Darebin, works with professional artists to create theatre with and by young people. Since their first production in 1998, Platform has carved a niche for itself as a company with a youth-focused approach to making quality work.
For further information contact Strategic Communications at the City of Ballarat on 53205658