Arts Queensland developed arts, culture + me (PDF 590KB) – a four-year action plan dedicated to supporting and creating opportunities for children and young people to get active in the arts.

The action plan is designed to encourage children and young people to have fun, play, invent, explore and develop their confidence and artistic talent. Importantly, it also provides opportunities for them to develop their creativity and for those who wish to pursue their dream to forge careers in and through the arts. The plan also values the work of those organisations who nurture their talents, and seeks to enliven spaces for young people to get creative. It aspires to ignite a lifelong passion in the arts.

Initiatives include This is Serious Mum! Creative Ambition Grants and Culture Love workshops. This is serious Mum! Creative Ambition grants provide funding of up to $50,000 for young artists and arts workers to start or grow their creative businesses, while the Culture Love program will employ Indigenous artists to work in their own communities in regional Queensland to run holiday art workshops.

The cornerstone of the action plan is The Edge – a dedicated space designed for and with young people at the Cultural Centre at South Bank, Brisbane. Built on the philosophy that young people have the right to experience arts in a way that is meaningful to them, The Edge will become an ideas and technology centre focused on exploring and developing creativity.

Young people have played a pivotal role in developing the project. A group of 13 'Edgy Advisors' have been consulting with leading Brisbane architect Robin Gibson, the original designer of The Edge auditorium space, and community members, to ensure the space achieves what young people want in a creative environment.

Arts Minister Rod Welford launched arts, culture + me during Youth Week on Friday 11 April at The Edge.

View photos from launch

11 April 2008 – Children and young people encouraged to get into the arts.
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