Thank you Shoalhaven, Youth Week was a huge success
Published on 15 May 2023
Young talent was displayed across Shoalhaven during this year’s Youth Week, between April 20 to April 30, 2023. The Community Capacity Building team delivered Youth Week through multiple events, including the Point Project, a photography workshop at the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery and the Night is Young Festival.
Council launched Youth Week at The Point (Sanctuary Point), in collaboration with Firefly Bay and Basin, Verb Syndicate and Totem Skateboarding to bring music, art, and culture to The Point, creating an inclusive space for local young people. Local musicians performed on the day, and a Totem skate school workshop, photo booth, footy toss competition and a free sausage sizzle were also enjoyed by more than 150 people who attended throughout the day. This was a great opportunity for young people to contribute their ideas to designing a skate park mural which will be installed at the skate park this year.
The momentum of Youth Week continued as Talesha Farrell, held a free photography workshop. Delivered in collaboration with the Arts and Culture team, young people developed their skills in photography and were able to experience a tour of the Jerrinja Balaang exhibition, showcasing photographs from talented Jerrinja women.
The Community Capacity Building team wrapped up Youth Week 2023 with the Night is Young Festival: Shining a Light on Youth, showcasing the talents of 15 young entrepreneurs, who held market stalls across the day and 16 local musical and dance performers.
A massive thank you to our young performers; the dancers at Danceworks and Kicks Danceforce, and the performers: SHE Phonophobia, Traffic Control, Effort, Apeiro, Harmony Dyer, Abby Cooke, Tarah Lily, Adam-John Clear, Chloe Hamilton, Tom Malligan, Katherine Handerson, Aleisha Post, Annalyla Townsend and Lillia Malone.
Later in the day, three young headliners took center stage, starting with Toruadh, a singer-songwriter from the South Coast who played her new single - 12:43, Monday Lane, a musical duo based in Ulladulla, and Aodhan, an Indigenous songwriter based in the Illawarra, winner of Triple J Unearthed High Indigenous initiative.
This event would not have been possible without the support of the partners and sponsors Headspace, Stella Studios, Mission Australia, Nowra Youth Centre, Power 94.9 FM, and NSW Youth Week.
Shoalhaven Youth Week 2023 has been a huge success, with over 700 people attending events across the Shoalhaven to celebrate our young people.