Creative industry professionals complete 3-day work-shop at Vivid Ideas 2014 via I-Manifest
Twenty creative industry professionals have presented a three-day workshop for 60 students as part of the Vivid Ideas festival through an initiative of creative youth charity I-Manifest, in collaboration with CATC Design School and Heckler.
Rising youth unemployment, slashed welfare, education loan support, together with rapidly rising tertiary education fees, is sounding a death knell to talent development in Australia.
This affects all young people in this country, but none more so than the marginalized and isolated youth of Sydney, NSW and indeed, the nation.
In NSW the figure is 12.5 per cent. This is over double the national average and in some areas that number has grown over 50 per cent in the past two years, with some districts reaching as high as 42%.
Yet, at the same time, we have a vibrant, exciting and prosperous creative industry that has an employment growth rate almost double that to the rest of the economy. In NSW the creative industries alone directly employs more people than mining and agriculture combined.
The I-Manifest manifesto is to fill this enormous need on both sides. To provide pathways for young people towards real, sustainable careers in the creative economy – and also, to funnel the industry with fresh, diverse and skill-developed talent – the passionate next wave.
Director and founder of I-Manifest, Joanna Pretyman, is of the belief that the I-Manifest classrooms are the future of creativity.
Says Pretyman: “At I-Manifest we are now working with the Dept of Education on a pilot program with South Sydney High School and advertising agency Clemenger BBDO, that will see the I-Manifest program be an accredited module as part of the education curriculum.
“The model includes heralded teaching methods for the future of work including project based learning, a collaborative classroom, introduction into the world of work and a community building approach, fostering positive relations between students, teachers, industry and parents.
“The future of creativity in NSW is now a priority area for both state and local government. The City of Sydney has recently released their cultural policy and The NSW Department of Trade & Investment have recognized NSW as a future global creative hub and so developed The Creative Industry Action Plan Policy for which I-Manifest was appointed to roll out the youth pillar.”
Festival director of Vivid Ideas, Jess Scully said the event was about connecting creative talent with the knowledge and networks they need to succeed.
Says Scully: “I-Manifest does just that, for the next generation of creators. It’s such a perfect match, and I’m thrilled that we could once again present them as part of our program at Vivid Ideas.
“The world of work and careers is changing so rapidly: it’s even harder when you’re a kid who does not have access to the mentors and role models who can show you what is possible. Giving young people one-on-one access to successful practitioners, hands-on tasks to test their limits and show them the skills they need to develop, and a chance to talk about how they can shape their own future – is not just valuable for those participants, but for the broader economy, which will benefit from this talent.”
And here, after three days of creative sweating is the result of the students’ work, projected at Vivid Path To The Future, the new Vivid site at the Sydney University Quadrangle Building.
Says Pretyman: “I think, that it is only us, the creative community, that truly understand the ability and power of creativity to change lives. So, it is up to us, to work together to inspire and these young creative souls, because they are the future of creativity, of our creative economy and a large part of the solution for a generation with mistakenly bleak prospects. These innovative young minds are the future of creativity.”
Industry leaders inspiring this next generation and conducting the Vivid Workshops were:
1. Will Alexander, Executive Producer, Heckler
2. Andrew Holmes, Motion Designer, Heckler
3. Mark Simpson, Creative Director, Sixty40
4. Stephen Hancock, Creative Director, Contently
5. Bonnie MacTavish, Planning Director, Drifter
6. Josh Hunt, Creative Director, Drifter
7. Adam Stone, Senior Designer, We Are Social
8. Cameron Gray, Managing Director, The Pool Collective
9. Simon Harsent, Photographer, The Pool Collective
10. Sean Izzard, Photographer, The Pool Collective
11. Danny Eastwood, Photographer, The Pool Collective
12. Juliette Taylor, Photographer, The Pool Collective
13. Steven Popovich, Photographer, Steven Popovich
14. Hannah Nixon, Communications Director, The Pool Collective
15. Brooklyn Whelan, Art Director / Artist, Brooklyn Whelan
16. Thomas Jackson, Illustrator, Thomas Jackson
17. Jeremy Lord, Illustrator, Jeremy Lord
18. Gabby Lord, Designer, Gabby Lord
19. Nate Smith, Photographer, Nate Smith
20. Kate Peck, Model & MTV VJ