Youth artists in the City of Ballarat are having their moment in the spotlight thanks to a new exhibition, Young Creatives on Show, open now in Unicorn Lane in the CBD.
This youth-led project has been delivered by five amazing young local artists, Amelia Greene, Brodie Kamp, Eva Haidacher, Izzy Henning and Julia Howe.
Young Creatives on Show is a program to support young creatives through workshops and exhibition preparation.
It recently saw more than 15 young people experimenting and exploring various art mediums across three free workshops at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, with the young creatives producing an art piece to exhibit in Unicorn Lane celebrating their chosen topic: Media & Identity.
The theme Media & Identity, chosen by students and the youth facilitators, aims to provide a visual insight into the challenges and power that social media and technology has over today's youth.
The young artists utilised multiple artistic techniques, colours and lived experiences to ensure their exhibition is an accurate portrayal of the multifaceted, complex nature of media and technology - especially when it comes to how young people may form their own sense of identity around this.
City of Ballarat South Ward Councillor Des Hudson said the artists and creatives who participated in the program should be very proud of what they have achieved.
"Exploring your place in the world using creativity and finding a way to express your voice is such an important and valuable skill to have," he said.
"Our young artists have so much to say, and we are proud to be able to give them the space and materials they need to express themselves and create beautiful and thought-provoking art."
The group were excited to have a space where they felt their voices and feelings could be displayed in the form of art, on this topic which directly impacts them across every facet of their lives.
Unicorn Lane exhibition space is free and open 24/7 for all to enjoy, and the City of Ballarat is pleased this space is being taken over by young people for the next six weeks.
"Make sure you celebrate our local young emerging artists aged 14 to 25, by checking out their art installation in Unicorn Lane," Cr Hudson said.
This project was made possible by the Art Gallery of Ballarat, VicHealth, Ballarat Youth Services and the incredible young people who were involved in making this happen.
