TO mark its 40-year history of supporting children, young people and their families, local not-for-profit service, Veritas House, has launched the Veritas Art Project, a unique opportunity for young local artists to have their creative talents celebrated.
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People aged 12 to 25 are invited to submit an expression of interest to create an artwork that reflects them, depicts their story, or resonates with this year's Youth Week theme, "Together more than ever".
Selected artists will be chosen by a committee and their commissioned artworks will be displayed in the Veritas House centres in Bathurst and Orange for the enjoyment of local young people accessing the agency's services.
"This project is designed to not only celebrate local youth art, but to also nurture artistic talents as every young person selected will be matched to a local experienced artist and provided mentoring sessions as part of the project," Veritas House CEO Jody Pearce said.
"Through a partnership with Bathurst Regional Art Gallery and Arts OutWest, we will also help provide the youth artists with art materials, reflecting our organisational values of inclusivity and ensuring that financial disadvantage does not prevent young people from pursuing their artistic potential."
While the Veritas Art Project is a celebration of the talents of young people in the region and an appropriate way to mark a significant milestone in the history of Veritas House, its announcement on national Youth Homelessness Matters Day, April 21, and during Youth Week, is no coincidence.
"It's important to recognise that youth homelessness continues to occur in communities like Orange and Bathurst and is the reason Veritas House was established 40 years ago," Ms Pearce said.
"More than 28,000 young Australians aged 12 to 24 are experiencing homelessness every night, and 36 per cent of young people accessing homelessness services live in rural or remote areas of NSW, a reminder that as a community we need to do more to develop sustainable and innovative solutions for not only supporting the needs of homeless young people, but in supporting their long-term dreams and aspirations."
The Veritas Art Project has been made possible by a grant provided by Arts OutWest and through sponsorship by Bathurst Regional Art Gallery; and is also keenly supported by the Orange Youth Action Council and the Bathurst Youth Council.
More information, including an online expression of interest form, can be found at www.veritasartproject.com.au.
The deadline for EOIs is May 14, 2021.
