About
VISIONARY IMAGES > VISUAL CULTURE + SOCIAL CHANGE
WHO
Visionary Images (VI) is a dynamic not for profit arts organisation dedicated to the engagement and development through creativity of young people with experience of hardship.
VI uses art, communication media, design and technology as tools for our intervention program. We provide the resources, expertise and encouragement to assist our young people to express themselves through art, to determine their own public representation in our society’s culture, and to assist them to make positive life changes.
VI’s young people are referred by youth and other agencies. Self-referred participants are assisted to link in to appropriate services.
WHAT
At Visionary Images disadvantaged and disengaged young people and professional artists collaborate to develop, produce and exhibit public art. Through creative projects our young people develop life skills, which enable them to fulfil their potential and contribute to the communities in which they live. They define the times they live in, take control of uncertainty and make positive change in the world.
V I has an eleven-year history of working with young people to create progressive, thought-provoking artworks that reflect their ideas, experience and concerns. These tangible outcomes of our program are displayed in high-profile public sites that move beyond traditional exhibition spaces and into the streets and other public landscapes.
HOW
Visionary Images has refined a unique working methodology that combines an inclusive, democratic approach with an unflinching conceptual development process and a willingness to embrace new technologies and non-traditional artistic concepts, formats and exhibition outcomes. This results in the creation of artworks that fuse strong community cultural development practices with high artistic innovation and ready accessibility for a very broad public audience.
Young people at VI are completely involved in all decision-making, including studio management, planning, creative development, production and exhibition processes. Through participating in concept and skill development workshops, co-running VI and creating meaningful arts projects which express their ideas and experiences, young members develop a range of long-term creative, cognitive, communication and practical skills. The studio is a friendly and safe environment where everybody’s ideas are listened to and respected.
WHERE
Visionary Images is based in the suburb of Richmond in Melbourne, Victoria and works with young people from across inner and outer suburban Melbourne. VI also undertakes projects in other municipalities, in regional communities and in other capital cities.