Youths tell story through art

An innovative, youth-driven project celebrating Broome’s rich pearling heritage will be performed for the first time next month.

Broome: You Are Here, funded by Country Arts WA is a collaborative medley of visual performances by local youths including documentaries, dance and photography which recount the stories of community elders and their relationship with the town.

The project, which has been in the pipeline for more than a year, was co-ordinated between artists, youth workers, cultural leaders, local schools and organisations including Goolarri Media, Life Without Barriers and Burdekin Youth in Action.

The event will be launched ahead of its presentation as part of the Shinju Matsuri Festival.

Participants spent time interviewing some of the town’s elders including Don McKenzie, Pearl Hamaguchi and Doug Fong.

Sydney-based multimedia artist Mayu Kanamori provided a hands-on approach in engaging and mentoring youths throughout production including digital media and photography.

The event will also showcase live performances from Bart Pigram and Shelley McKenna, and dancers from St Mary’s College and Broome Senior High School. Interpreters will also be on stage to communicate with members of Broome’s deaf community.

Burdekin Youth in Action co-ordinator Richard Mayhew said the event was a “celebration of the diversity and talent of Broome” and encouraged everyone to come along.

Broome: You Are Here will be held at 6.30pm at Goolarri on Thursday, September 15.