Future Reset: Young People, Arts and Mental Wellbeing

Collaboration and co-design.  

Each arts organisation gets their very own investment. They also get to enjoy the investment given to other arts organisations through true, meaningful collaboration. And we’ll help to facilitate it. Workshopping, learning and innovating as one, big, flexible team. 

And here’s the best bit: each arts organisation will hire at least one ‘Young Creative Leader’. These are paid roles that put young people at the head of the table. To back their creative vision and support mental wellbeing in the process, in the most affected communities – in their communities.  

That’s right, arts leaders will employ young creatives to produce events, installations and other creative projects to help young people socialise and connect. This is where mental wellbeing can flourish.  

True collaboration. True co-design. With young people calling the shots.  

• Multicultural Arts Vic

• Regional Arts Vic

• Yirramboi Festival

• Arts Access Vic

• The Push Inc.

• Western Edge Youth Arts

• Next Wave

• Arts Mildura

• Footscray Community Arts Centre


Each organisation shares deep roots with the young people in their communities – especially those whose mental wellbeing has been most impacted. Because this isn’t just about the individual, it’s about everyone. And bringing them along on the journey. 

With Young Creative Leaders representing their peers and harnessing the power of the arts, there’ll be tons of ways for young people to make new friends, express themselves and feel connected. Next stop: enhanced mental wellbeing.

The arts industry calls them ‘activations’. Young people see them as ways to create something new, find their people and be themselves. We’re talking live gigs or jam sessions, pop-up galleries, workshops or ceremonies. Anything and everything that brings young people together.  

There’ll be over 16 major activations created right across the state. This will impact more than 60,000 young people throughout the next 3 years. 

As for what they will actually be, well, we can’t tell you... yet!  

That’s up to our Young Creative Leaders, and the peers they’ll work with. They have the ideas, we're here to launch them. They’ll come together to share stories and create conversations through the arts, in places and spaces that need it most. 

Times have been tough, but the future brings hope. Victoria’s young people know what they want and know what they need. We know that young people aged 12-25 years have been hugely impacted by the pandemic, and mental wellbeing has suffered. 

But here’s the thing, there’s a pretty special relationship between the arts and mental wellbeing. One that we’ve found provides a lot of positive results:

• Art brings people together. To create it or experience it. 

• Art gives people new skills. Again to create, or to experience it and talk about it.

• Art is a teacher. It helps people understand things in different ways. 

That’s why we’re backing the arts. As we saw in Jessi's video above, art has a hugely positive impact on mental wellbeing. Plus, many young creatives have told us:

• "Art provides a language for what you want and need, and one that can be understood universally"

• "Art is a medium to develop a sense of self, perspective of the world, finding solidarity with other people who have similar challenges/experiences"

• "Arts is a medium that equalises between generations and a way to shift power to young people as they participate in the space"

Because when you put art and young people together, something beautiful happens. You create a future with unimaginable potential. A future that’s exciting.

Organisations are already shortlisting their Young Creative Leaders as we speak, then the action really starts! There will be a big Youth Summit to bring leaders and their communities together in October 2022. Then these arts activations will roll out from mid 2023 through to 2024.

So, let’s reset the bar and celebrate what we know our young people are capable of – creating an inclusive and healthier future, one step at a time.

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We have a vision of a Victoria where no young person is denied a future that is healthy. 

We see a future with vibrant communities, where young people are connected, active, enjoy wholesome food and feel great. A future inspired by, shaped by and shared by the people of Victoria.

Future Healthy is an investment of $45 million over 3 years. Partnering with local communities with locally led solutions right across the state, elevating the voices and experiences of Victoria’s young people to create a healthier future.

Future Healthy will: 

• Create neighbourhoods and spaces where people feel safe, welcome and confident to be active

• Improve access to healthy, sustainable, affordable and culturally appropriate food

• Build meaningful social connections and inclusive environments

Most importantly, Future Healthy will engage with young people and their parents and carers every step of the way, so they can share their lived experiences, and help to inform and shape solutions.

This vision is only possible with collaboration and contribution from organisations like yours and from communities across Victoria. Together we have a chance to make a big difference.