Future Reset – Gippsland

Bastion Festival Mentorship Program

Working with the Bastion Festival team in Mallacoota, we enhanced this incredible festival by providing six young people (aged 13-25) with the opportunity to contribute directly to its success.

The successful applicants were employed to either develop a piece of work to be showcased at the festival or assist in delivering the audio-technical elements for the talented musicians who performed. These individuals explored animation, street art, and production techniques, collaborating with industry professionals to deliver the event to an exceptional standard.

The festival was a vibrant celebration of the Mallacoota community and the profound impact of music on their lives. We were fortunate that Regional Arts Victoria’s Future Reset program was welcomed into this space, expanding skills, knowledge, and professional pathways in such an enriching environment.

Latrobe Portraiture Workshops

Regional Arts Victoria, Arts Access Victoria and Latrobe Regional Gallery collaborated to host inclusive Portraiture Workshops, where participants explored self-portraiture photography using recycled disposable cameras. Guided by artists from Hillvale Photo, attendees learned to use re-di disposable cameras and create captivating portraits.

As part of the program, a young local emerging artist was employed to learn how to run community workshops. This provided them with hands-on experience and mentorship, fostering their professional growth and equipping them with the skills to lead creative initiatives in the future.

The workshops provided ten participants with professional knowledge, technical coaching, and valuable practice time, leaving them inspired and equipped with new creative tools to further their artistic journeys.

Image: Anne Moffat. Lillian & her garden, Yallourn, 2023. An older woman in a fabulous pink top and pants, posing in the middle of her garden surrounded by powerlines.

Winter Skate (Bad Kids Event)

After eight months of dedicated planning by the 2024 Young Producers, the Expressions Festival took center stage on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at the West Gippsland Arts Centre. It was a night that truly celebrated the beauty of youth art in all its magical forms, showcasing over 60 talented artists and drawing a crowd of 300 guests.

This year marked a poignant rebirth of the Expressions Festival, originally a showcase of student performances from Baw Baw Shire high schools.

RAV’s Bad Kids hosted captivating visual and performing arts workshops leading up to Winter Skate. The event featured an outdoor stage, top-notch equipment, and live projections showcasing local youths’ artworks, illuminating the entire community – which all moved inside due to the wild winter weather. But a good time was had by all!

2024 Expressions Festival

After eight months of dedicated planning by the 2024 Young Producers, the Expressions Festival took center stage on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at the West Gippsland Arts Centre. It was a night that truly celebrated the beauty of youth art in all its magical forms, showcasing over 60 talented artists and drawing a crowd of 300 guests.

This year marked a poignant rebirth of the Expressions Festival, originally a showcase of student performances from Baw Baw Shire high schools.

After a hiatus due to the West Gippsland Arts Centre’s redevelopment and the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival was reimagined in partnership with Regional Arts Victoria’s Future Arts Movement. The initiative, supported by VicHealth, focuses on fostering youth creativity and mental well-being across Gippsland.

The 2024 Young Producers—Ethan, Liz, Leila, Flynn, Inara, and Abbey—poured their hearts into crafting an event that celebrated the theme “My Happy Place: Self Expression as a Young Person in 2024.” Through this theme, 60 young artists explored the spaces, both physical and emotional, where they find joy, comfort, and authenticity.

The festival featured a vibrant mix of visual art, interactive exhibits, and live performances.

The event also shone a spotlight on the Corey Maric Youth Foundation, raising funds to support their vital mental health initiatives for local youth. Abbey’s heartfelt appeal emphasised the foundation’s role in breaking down barriers to mental health support and the transformative power of art in fostering well-being.

Expressions Festival 2024 was more than just an event; it was a testament to the power of youth, creativity, and community. As Flynn concluded, “Tonight, we are not seeing the artists of tomorrow; we are seeing the artists of today with all of their ideas, bravery, creativity, and passion. How lucky we are to witness it!”

With its successful return, the Expressions Festival leaves a lasting legacy of empowerment, connection, and celebration, setting the stage for future creative endeavors in Gippsland.

Incredible photography by Lauren Murphy

Young Producers Program

In partnership with the West Gippsland Arts Centre, we delivered the 2024 Young Producers Program, employing six young people aged 14-23 to plan, design, and deliver the 2024 Expressions Festival.

Over eight months, six young producers (aged 14-23) were paid to craft a vibrant night celebrating visual and performance art, alongside six bespoke free workshops facilitated by Gippsland-based artists for young people.

The workshops, covering writing, theatre, visual art, music and songwriting, photography, and film, ran from July to August, with over 40 young people from Gippsland participating. The program empowered young creatives to take the reigns and encourage youth into the spotlight!

Bad Kids Program in East Gippsland Shire and Wellington Shire

In collaboration with East Gippsland Shire Council Wellington Shire Council, and artist JOF Makes Art, our latest project, Bad Kids, was a workshop series for students aged 12 – 18.

During these workshops, young people had an opportunity to work with lead artists JOF O’Farrell and + Zak Pidd and emerging East Gippsland Artists Amy Allender and Olivia Lay to learn, explore, and create visual art pieces and music, in response music and songs written by Gippsland based artists. The goal was to inspire participants to create work reflecting what they were hearing and experiencing.

These visual artworks were then taken, and transformed into large scale projections that were displayed as living backdrops at two events:
– Winter Skate in Cann River, July 2024.
– UpSwing Mini Fest in Bundalaguah, November 2024

Bad Kids empowered young people to take over a space, giving them a platform to showcase their voices and connect with their community.

Expressions Festival Artist Workshops

As part of the 2024 Expressions Festival, RAV along with West Gippsland Arts Centre hosted a series of creative workshops for young people.

Workshop One – Script and Story, led by playwright Stephanie Clark, allowed participants to explore character building, script formatting, and audience connection.

Workshop Two – The Workshop Floor helped participants transition theatrical scripts from page to stage with Stephanie Clark.

Workshop Three – In the Studio offered photography techniques with Lauren Murphy to elevate participants’ visual storytelling.

Workshop Four – DIY Songwriting and Recording with Lucy and Nick from Raging Hormones taught songwriting, DIY recording, and self-releasing music.

Workshop Five – Open Studio with artist Emma Hearnes provided a collaborative space for visual arts feedback and development.

Workshop Six – Short Film Making with filmmaker Ashley Ball focused on storytelling and cinematography for aspiring filmmakers.

A bonus workshop series was sponsored by Voice for Choice, to allow visual artist Emma Hearnes to run visual at workshops at Learning Independence for Everyone over two exciting sessions.

All workshop participants were encouraged to submit their work to the 2024 Expressions Festival in October.

UpSwing Mini Fest

On Friday, November 22, The Live At The Bundy buzzed with creativity, energy, and community spirit as the Upswing Mini Fest brought together 110 guests for a night of art, music, and connection. Organised by passionate members of the Wellington Shire Youth Council + Regional Arts Victoria, this event was a celebration of young talent, showcasing local artists, makers, and performers in an unforgettable summer evening.

Guests were treated to beautiful live music from emerging local artists Billie Spokes, Dane Nicholls, and Emily Nock with Harry Hook Is Real delivering a standout performance. The stage was alive with talent and passion from Wellingtons next generation of musicians.

The visual feast didn’t end there—jaw-dropping artwork created by Wellington students adorned the stage, immersing attendees in the creativity of local youth as the sun set. Complementing the artistic experience, interactive activities like lawn games, arts and crafts, and other fun offerings brought guests of all ages together in joyful connection.

Market stalls run by six young makers added a unique flair to the evening, providing an opportunity to shop local and support small businesses just in time for the holiday season.

As the night wrapped up, guests left not only with unique handmade treasures and full hearts but also with a deeper appreciation for the incredible artistic community flourishing in Wellington Shire. Upswing Mini Fest was more than just a night of entertainment—it was a celebration of art that brings all ages together.

Photo stills from Isaac Carne, film maker.

Ready, Set, Rock: Workshop

In June 2023, Regional Arts Victoria supported a two-hour workshop led by Raging Hormones, where participants learned five actionable steps to announce their band and establish a self-sustaining music career. The session covered essential topics, including songwriting and recording on a budget, creating a compelling digital presence, engaging with venue bookers to land gigs, promoting music releases, and setting up a pathway for a long-term career in music.

Twelve participants left with a personalised workbook filled with expert advice, actionable steps, and resources to help them take their music career to the next level.

Gippslandia Mentorship Program

For our second project as part of the Future Arts Movement, we teamed up with the quarterly magazine Gippslandia to deliver the Gippslandia Mentorship Program. This initiative provided 16 mentorships and skills development opportunities for young people aged 15-25 in the Gippsland region.

The program aimed to develop participants’ skills in journalism or art forms complementary to journalism, such as writing, graphic design, photography, and illustration. Sixteen young artists were mentored by Gippslandia contributors, who guided them in developing material for Issue 30 of the magazine.

Participants were paid for their involvement and met online with their mentors over three months, from September to December 2023. An additional session was held in February 2024 for mentees interested in learning the editing and publishing side of the magazine.

Check out Issue 30, the Youth Edition of Gippslandia.

Circus Workshops across Gippsland

Regional Arts Victoria, in partnership with GippSport, provided young people in regional and rural Gippsland with the opportunity to learn new circus skills. By collaborating with local Gippsland artist Wacky Wombat Entertainment, young people aged 12-17 were introduced to innovative ways of engaging with each other and exploring their own potential.

Twelve workshops took place in six different locations across all shires of Gippsland between July and November 2023.

The workshops were well-attended, with high engagement and overwhelmingly positive feedback:
“That’s fun! Is this a normal thing we can do?”
“Dude, where did you find this one? He is off his chops!”
“I always wanted to try this (small cart with pedals). So much fun!”

Oil Painting in Cann River

In partnership with the East Gippsland Art Gallery, Regional Arts Victoria facilitated a two-day oil painting workshop in Cann River in December 2023. Gippsland artist Nadine Lineham collaborated with students from Cann River P-12 College, guiding them in creating beautiful still-life paintings. The workshop enhanced their artistic skills and fostered a deeper appreciation for the arts.