How do arts and culture change if led by notions of engagement, accessibility and democracy?
Could children and young people, their families and communities shape these changes?
How will artists and cultural workers respond or revision their work and impact their surroundings?

Australia’s national peak body for youth arts, Young People and the Arts Australia (YPAA), examines these questions and more in a National Symposium this June.

The symposium, lead by prominent international and national industry leaders is not to be missed if you value the creation of and access to meaningful arts experiences for children and young people.

YPAA’s primary role as the national peak body for youth arts is to support all people who create an arts ecology for children and young people across urban and regional locations.

Changing Habitats will provide a platform for artists, cultural practitioners, arts managers, educators, producers, youth workers, government, academics, parents and young people to share with each other learning, sharing and discovering how we can support Australia’s next generation of ‘cultural inhabitants’.

The National Symposium is a three day event in Brisbane. It is being held as part of QPAC’s Out of the Box Festival at the State Library of Queensland’s new digital cultural centre, ‘The Edge’.

“Set in the action at Out of the Box, this symposium is a fantastic opportunity to connect with peers from across the country and rigorously consider how and why we make our work. The days will be framed by provocations from presenters who are radicalising arts practice on the international stage. Prepare to get charged up, be challenged and leave inspired”

Rose Myers, Artistic Director Out of the Box Festival

An additional professional development master class will run prior to the core Symposium events (6, 7 & 8 June). Places for the master class are limited, and tickets to this will be sold separately.

Young people are also encouraged to attend, to give their views and opinions on the improvement of a democratised youth arts culture in Australia. A young people’s program will run alongside part of the Symposium content to encourage young people to voice their opinions and allow them to utilise the creative technologies available at The Edge. Tickets for under 26ers will be made available.

Tickets are available through QTIX. YPAA members are eligible for a discount (woohoo!), so get along to www.ypaa.net and register, and check out the volunteering opportunities as well.

For more information, visit the website, shoot the friendly folks at YPAA an email, or give them a call on (07) 3254 0553.