Future Reset is VicHealth’s latest partnership with the arts sector to move the dial on young peoples collective health and wellbeing. Together, we’re enhancing mental wellbeing and social connection through, art, creativity and culture, with young people leading the charge. Because when you put art and young people together, something amazing happens – a future with unimaginable potential!
Future Reset has made me realise what a thriving and healthy arts sector could be – reciprocal, gentle, deep, slow and emergent, slowly evolving and responding to the nuances of communities, young people and arts audiences. It’s a game changer. Period.
Penny Harpham, CEO Western Edge
We know that the pandemic has brought into clearer view widening global inequalities rooted in intersecting structures of race, class, gender, heteronormativity and ableism. The burden of these inequalities is reflected in various social, health and economic outcomes as well as people’s sense of belonging, safety, and (in)security in institutions and everyday contexts.
We developed the Future Reset program to respond to these challenges. It’s part of a growing body of public health initiatives around the world seeking to increase social connectedness and wellbeing more generally through community-based art projects.
Together our 9 arts organisations will work to create a collection of youth-led art projects over the next 2 years, right across Victoria. Each organisation gets their very own investment, hiring a young creative leader to champion their work. Future Reset is giving young people a voice to create their own artistic vision – supporting mental wellbeing in the process - for their communities and with their communities.
Don’t just take our word for it! Hear first-hand from our community:
This project (Future Reset) has offered me the opportunity to support my own community. Through the rich experiences, connections & resources that I have been able to access thanks to this project and those involved, it has placed me in a position where I can point members of my community in the right direction, a direction that leads to self-governed and autonomous artists.
Nickila De Silva, Next Wave
I feel informed, I feel seen, I feel validated, I feel confident - and most importantly, I feel so motivated. The next generation is here & one by one, we are taking control of our futures - and that is thanks to those who have chosen to support us in doing so.
Being part of a process that is collaborative and non-competitive at its core is … well, it’s revolutionary.
Penny Harpham, CEO Western Edge
...Future Reset’s model – one where arts organisations and young creatives were encouraged to meet, network and develop partnerships slowly, gently and iteratively and to ask for what their projects really needed to thrive – has been a massive paradigm shift for me around what is ACTUALLY possible in our sector if the rule book was flipped.
It’s a total breath of fresh air to know we are being valued, heard and supported to work together towards a thriving, connected and collaborative arts sector. It just means that we can get back to doing what we are all so desperate to do – support young and emerging artists and share creative opportunities and events with our communities!
The 9 organisations uplift, support and influence each other. Our intertwined knowledge and efforts become the building blocks for more equitable arts.
Creative Lead, Arts Access Victoria