Helen Macpherson Smith Trust

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Case Study: Outer Urban Projects

ProjectLinkages Employment Generator

Amount$90,000 over three years

Date2017

ProgramPast Programs | Arts and Culture

TRUST OBJECTIVES PROJECT OBJECTIVES
This grant was approved under previous grants policy (2014-2017)
Reducing inequality Supporting young participants to extend and showcase their performance skills for employment opportunities
Enabling financial sustainability Building an increased diverse income stream for Outer Urban Projects and paid employment for young artists
Collaboration and partnership Local government, secondary schools, arts venues and community organisations, philanthropy

Upskilling young emerging performance artists to be work-ready

In this pilot project, young people from Melbourne’s north will expand their performance, community and business skills in a solid pathway to paid employment. Outer Urban Project’s (OUP) Linkages program aims to support and generate a culturally diverse northern wave of new artists, arts workers and creative producers.

Image Outer Urban Projects Zone2 Program participant Tehyali Malone and R-Fam Dance Crew take part in the Inaugural Annual Dance Affair. Photo: Migule Rios.

Snapshot:

  • The Linkages Employment Generator will identify young people participating in OUP’s Zone2 Community Access Tutorial Program who want to work on OUP’s Social Enterprise but require training in order to be work-ready as performing artists.
  • Young emerging artists will be offered mentoring, training and support over a 12-month period with professional artists/tutors and community development staff to develop and expand their performance, communication and business skills.
  • Participants will be linked into regular workshops and performance opportunities with OUP arts, community, corporate and local council partners across Melbourne.
  • Project participants will graduate to paid employment on the Social Enterprise, working for a wide array of clients on workshops, tutoring and performance events.

www.outerurbanprojects.org

“Outer Urban Projects facilitates the performance and story telling of youth from Melbourne’s Northern Suburbs most of whom come from migrant backgrounds. It’s vital and empowering work that reflects our complexity as a people and our cultural heritage....” Andrew Bovell, playwright of ‘Secret River’ and ‘Lantana’