Fostering the development of our future generations is central to the Barkly Regional Arts philosophy.

Barkly Regional Arts has a strong commitment to providing arts programs and initiatives for young people in the Barkly region.

All of its current programs welcome young participants. Projects and youth-focused events run year-round at Barkly Regional Arts.

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Get in touch with Barkly Arts about our youth initiatives here: Contact

Get involved…

The Winanjjikari Music Centre (WMC) supports young musicians in a myriad of ways. In partnership with the Barkly Regional Council, WMC is providing music ‘rigs’ to five remote communities, including band equipment and PAs, and has commenced training of musicians in two communities in the use of the rigs. Music coordinators have been engaged in Epenarra and Elliott to both receive and coordinate training for community members.

Young people are encouraged to participate. This will be replicated in the other three communities – Ali Curung, Ampludawich and Alparulum – as the lockdown restrictions are lifted. During the Covid-19 lockdown Winanjjikari staff have taken the opportunity to upgrade their recording, song writing and online skills. One outcome will be the development of a hip-hop program for Barkly youth. Another will be the capacity of the centre to train Indigenous musicians remotely, enabling them, for example, to participate in online recording training sessionas. Winanjjikari is also open to supporting high school students on work experience. The centre currently has a talented young musician completing work experience. Staff are working with him to support the formation and training of a youth band. The band will be a role model for other young aspiring musicians and will be provided with performance opportunities to gain experience and exposure.

Barkly Voices involves people from across the Barkly region singing songs from local song writers. Young singers are encouraged to participate, along with people of all ages. Recording sessions will be held in classrooms in schools throughout the region and all participants’ audio-visual performances edited into a single presentation for distribution online throughout the Barkly and beyond.

The Desert Harmony Community Lockdown Festival has a number of initiatives incorporating young people. A diverse program of creative and educational activities developed and delivered by community groups, services and organisations will be held during the school term 2 and the July school holidays to engage with the Barkly community. Activities will be recorded (video/ photographs/ audio recording) and compiled into a series of programs to be uploaded to the festival website and presented across the festival weekend 31 July – 2 August. Activities for young people include school performances of music and dance groups, a footpath art exhibition and street walk, and “Kids Talk” – stories from children recorded by Barkly Regional Arts Media Mob.

The Visual Arts department is currently planning to create a space for young Indigenous women to express themselves artistically in a variety of mediums including, fashion, jewellery, photography, and video. Process led workshops will use, for example, contemporary artists of colour as a reference point for self-expression through art and provide young developing Barkly artists a social and political voice through their artistic endeavours.

What we’ve been up to lately… #barklyyouth

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