BERNADETTE Fitzgerald helps young people bridge cultural differences through art.
As workshop co-ordinator with the Footscray Community Art Centre, Ms Fitzgerald develops new and inspiring programs for young people to express themselves.
She has established a number of hip hop workshops at the centre in the past few years.
“There is incredible power in the rhythm of the written word and hip hop gives young people an avenue to express themselves,” she said.
Ms Fitzgerald said young workshop participants raised issues like racism, among other concerns in their music.
“We are giving them a voice and allowing them to have their say.
“Their music gives insight into cultural issues. Instead of fighting with each other about their differences down the street they are able to communicate and find common ground.”
Ms Fitzgerald has organised workshops for the past nine years.
She was behind the successful ID program that ran late last year, when hip hop performers like DJ Wasabi and Sista She gave young women hands-on experience with devising rap lyrics.
Ms Fitzgerald said that using these skills in a public arena gives young people’s self-confidence a boost.
“There’s one girl who was kind of reserved. It’s been wonderful watching her grow in confidence.”
Ms Fitzgerald said this success was one of the reasons why she continued to develop the centre’s workshop program.
“I believe everyone has the ability to be creative.
“Children, right up until they are 15 years old, have the confidence to be creative but when they reach a certain age I think they lose that.”
Ms Fitzgerald said the art workshops allowed young people to develop and express their own identity but helped them be part of the community.
“They use the arts as a vehicle to develop that sense of community connectedness. We offer a safe environment where that expression can take place.”
Footscray Community Arts Centre will run two new programs next month. They will hold hip hop workshops from 16 to 25 April with DJ Wasabi and workshops with break dance group Fresh Sox and Lama Roc from 1 April to 27 May.
