Creative Sparks
Creative Sparks is our Creative Industries program for youth aged 13-24. Through a series of workshops and panel talks, the program aims to promote the creative industries as a career, coping mechanism and community enhancer. The sessions are run in partnership with local Councils, education and industry partners.
Creative Sparks is an arts-led Creative Industries workshop program delivered by Arts Mid North Coast for young people aged 13–24 across the Mid North Coast. The program is designed to increase awareness of creative industry pathways, highlight the role of creative practice in wellbeing, and strengthen community connection through accessible, youth-friendly engagement.
The program typically runs over a 2-hour session and includes interactive activities, open discussions and group work. The program engages local creative workers to facilitate and share their lived experiences as creative practitioners.
Program Highlights:
- Importance of creative practice for community and wellbeing.
- Future outlook of creative industries and what a creative career looks like.
- Impact of creative work on lives and communities.
- Overcoming barriers through creative practice.
- Interactive, youth-friendly format to inspire, inform and engage.
The sessions are run in partnership with local Councils, education and industry partners.
Creative Sparks - 2025 Program Summary and Outcomes
In 2025, Creative Sparks was delivered four times in different formats and locations, including school-based workshops, community settings and regional youth engagement initiatives. Sessions typically run from 2–6 hours and include interactive activities, open discussion, group work and direct engagement with local creative professionals.
Across all deliveries, the program has:
- Promoted creative industries as viable career pathways
- Positioned creative practice as a coping mechanism and tool for wellbeing
- Connected young people with local creative workers and networks
- Created accessible, in-person opportunities for regional youth to engage creativel
- Local artists and creative workers are central to delivery, sharing lived experience and non-linear career journeys as presenters and facilitators.
Key Learnings
Evaluation identified that:
- Youth-led and peer-influenced promotion improves engagement
- Hands-on activities combined with practitioner stories are particularly effective
- Creative careers are of strong interest to regional young people but often lack visibility and support
- Regular, longer-form engagement would allow deeper participation and stronger outcomes
These learnings directly inform Arts Mid North Coast’s current program design for youth initiatives.
Arts Mid North Coast are seeking further funding to expand this program into other regions on the Mid North Coast. If you are interested in becoming a partner, get in touch with Skye Petho: programs@artsmidnorthcoast.org