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.