Mission Australia
Charity
Creative Youth Initiatives - Festival of Potential |
|
Mission Australia is once again partnering with American Express to present the Festival of Potential, a celebration that is designed to encourage people to explore their creative potential while raising money for Mission Australia’s Creative Youth Initiatives. This free outdoor event at the Palm Grove, in Sydney’s Darling Harbour on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 of December, encourages people to pick up a brush and put paint to canvas. Professional artists and CYI students will be there to guide participants and for every canvas painted, American Express will donate $25 to Mission Australia (up to $50,000). Each painting will then be photographed to be part of a digital collage in the shape of a heart – representing Mission Australia’s logo and public generosity. This communal artwork will be unveiled on a big screen at the 7 December opening of Artworks!, the annual exhibition of work by Creative Youth Initiatives students. This year’s exhibition, ‘Serendipitous Illusions’, runs at The Muse Gallery, 695-731 Harris St, Ultimo, until Friday 10 December at 1pm. Find out more about the Festival of Potential at www.facebook.com/americanexpressaustralia
Creative Youth Initiatives in Sydney’s Surry Hills provides free creative programs for young people aged 16 to 25 who are facing many and varied challenges in their lives, be it mental health issues, substance abuse, unemployment, social isolation or family breakdown. With support from musicians, artists and social workers, students are assisted in developing a broad range of skills and are encouraged to use creativity as a healthy outlet for the issues they are facing in their lives. Through two TAFE-accredited programs, Artworks! and Sounds of the Street, CYI students receive practical and one on one training and have the opportunity to develope their creative skills as well as build self confidence, social skills and self-belief. Artworks! incorporates the full suite of visual arts – including painting, sculpture, and design and culminates in an end-of-year exhibition. Here is what some of this year’s Artworks! Students have to say about art’s role in helping them to reach their potential: Ruby, 24: “Before I came to CYI I never had the chance to do art… I thought I had no talent in this area. Through the set CYI exercises I found artforms I was quite good at, so over the year I have explored a lot of different mediums I never thought I’d try. “I enjoy the entire process. I go home covered in paint and enjoy having paint under my fingernails. My family is more impressed… They’ve noticed the difference in me that I’m finally doing something I love doing. Art isn’t just about the finished product. When you look at a painting you can see the story behind it and the colours. But as an artist it’s not just about viewing the finished product, it’s about the entire thing. It’s about sitting down with a sketch book and drawing out things and sometimes actively hating what you’re doing. “At the end of the day at CYI I feel like I’ve actually achieved something. Before I started here I had a lot of problems with depression but finding something I really love doing has helped me to deal with that a bit better. I’m more likely to get out of bed and come to class because I really love what I’m doing.” Phillip, 22: “CYI has helped me immensely. I’ve been shown all new techniques and how to stick to things and look at every little detail. It’s nice being among people. When I come here I like to get all the ideas swirling around in my head and bring them to reality. I have been able to improve my ability to do it since coming here. It’s also helped my confidence and helped with social things. “I’ve got a lot of ideas and there’s quite a few things I’ve have done yet. I have these moments where I have an idea in my head, and it goes KABOOM! - and I immediately run to a piece of paper and write it down. There’s so much to do! “I do like to show my art to people; it helps build up my confidence. I had done an exhibition once and sold a piece for $50 in my first semester. It (my first show) was nerve-wracking but I was proud. “As far as reaching my potential goes, I’m going to need a launch pad and a rocket, ‘cos the flight will probably go to Saturn! I think I’m pretty good but I’d like to think I will get better, will improve.” Evalyn, 22: CYI has probably helped me to be more diverse, because I usually to do digital artwork, so I’ve expanded from sticking to the one medium. But it’s also improved my digital artwork. “If someone said I couldn’t do art I would feel quite depressed. I find I’m doing more art for myself. I used to draw once every few months but now I’m doing more than I used to. I am now communicating with more people and it’s face-to-face. I’m getting upfront critiques, which helps the confidence. I’m waitressing now and that’s also helping my confidence. I also like engaging with other people. “I’ve never had my stuff on show so I’m excited about the exhibition. And I’d never framed before until I learnt it here. The class has disciplined me.” Annabelle: “CYI has given me more confidence because I’d never really done much painting. My creative thing was drama and I’m a dancer and I was more into that. I liked art but my teacher at high school told me I was crap so I was too scared to try it. My family is really into painting and I wanted to try it. “I was heaps interested in trying and I’d been told about it so thought I’d give it a go. It’s given me lots more confidence. Before I’d get my confidence on the way I look but this has sort of given me something else. “I’ve made a lot of new friends here, a little bit more creative and different. Everyone is really lovely and understanding. I now prefer during the week more than weekend – I’m kind of disappointed when the weekend comes ’cos I’ve got nothing to do. Art’s a good outlet. You should try different things until you find something you enjoy doing.”
|
American Express and Mission Australia help young people reach their potential