Outloud has had the enormous privilege to have worked with so many of Bankstown’s students, teachers, parents, elders and young people. Below are a selection of their experiences in their own words. We hope to extend our immense gratitude to our friends and contributors without whom our work would not exist!
“[Outloud continues] to inspire local young people and their positive contribution to the arts, the community and Australian society.”
Hon Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education
“Outloud has been instrumental in setting up Bankstown Poetry Slam and allowing us the space and providing us with the guidance needed to successfully grow and maintain this special project. As a result of Outloud’s mentorship, administrative support, financial auspice arrangement and mentoring, we have incorporated BPS into ‘Click Ink’ and we will continue to work with Outloud and the Bankstown Arts Centre to push the boundaries of our events and provide a platform for all people to express themselves, and a space for all people to feel that they belong.”
Sara Mansour, founder/artistic director of the Bankstown Poetry Slam
“Outloud plays a critical role in Western Sydney as a cultural broker, linking people and projects, particularly enabling access and skills development to practitioners, artists and participants in community, community development space and the arts. As a social worker and someone who has worked on projects with Outloud I have every confidence in Outloud’s ability to continue delivering successful programs that will have important long term outcomes for the diverse cultural communities living in Bankstown, and broader Western Sydney.”
Ola El Hassan, Linked Up Program
“The environment that has been created in Bankstown, through the work of Outloud over thirty years has led to the formation of a strong and unique artistic community. My decade-long partnership with Outloud has been a small part in the development of a new wave of young, culturally diverse young people from Sydney’s West who have an opportunity to change the face of Sydney theatre. This cohort have now been exposed at every level to a rigorous, professional theatre practice over an extended period by virtue of the commitment of organisations like Outloud to produce and promote community arts practice in Sydney’s West.
Outloud has generated a core ensemble of over 50 determined emerging artists from a profusion of cultural backgrounds utilising different performance forms from music to slam poetry, performing arts and literature. Outloud have become a crucial factor in the long term development of a truly multicultural Australia and provides real pathways for marginalized and culturally and linguistically diverse young people committed to entering Australia’s performing arts industry.”
Stefo Nantsou, Playwright, Actor and Director
“Sir Joseph Banks High School has proudly been associated with Outloud for over 20 years. A vast number of students have been actively involved in a number of engaging and visionary projects, including theatre productions (Look the Other Way, The Other Way, The Way, To Be Honest), interviewing and podcasting projects (Stories of Strength), oral history and writing programs (Real Talk) to name a few.
Our treasured association has not only changed the lives of the young people involved but has also saved the lives of some who found a sense of purpose and belonging at Outloud. Outloud has employed several of our former students and this reinforces the importance of the work that Outloud fosters. We look forward to a continued relationship with Outloud as it genuinely gives young people opportunities for their many and diverse voices to be heard.”
Joyce Conte, Creative and Performing Arts Faculty Sir Joseph Banks High School
“We are drawn to work with Outloud because of its excellent reputation in community arts.”
Dr Catherine Keenan AM, Executive Director & Co-founder, The Story Factory
“I was particularly impressed by the organisation’s ambition plan for its RESPECT Project, which undertakes important work encouraging positive attitudes in young boys in order to combat generational domestic violence.”
David Sharpe, Sharpe Advisory Director
“Outloud is a very creative, open-minded program that helped me a lot. Thank you.”
Open Studio participant
“The Outloud team was phenomenal in their development of the UNITY project. I can’t wait to see the positive outcomes resulting from this great initiative.”
Unity participant
“Just an amazing bunch of people that made me feel so welcomed. It was such a fun, calm and happy experience.”
Participating musician, Snug Music Festival
“Outloud has developed deep and lasting relationships with many Aboriginal families and schools as well as individuals organisations working with and for Aboriginal people since their incorporation in 1991.”
Aunty Lyn Martin, Darug Elder
