Youth Access Project:
Young Ambassadors program
November 2003 - October 2004

Nine young people participated in a twelve-month paid training program, which was designed to provide positive personal, social, educational and vocational experiences and opportunities for young people who were initially not in education or employment. The program included:

• Presentations and workshops by and research into a range of contemporary Melbourne artists represented in the NGV collection
• Workshops by a range of NGV staff including education and programs, curatorial, customer service, library, installation, exhibition, conservation
• Work experience with education and programs department
• Practical arts workshops to develop individual and collaborative works
• Assistance with an exhibition of works by contemporary Melbourne artists at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia
• Development of gallery presentations, floor talks and workshops for a range of audiences
• Off-site exhibition at Arts Victoria of the art works of the Young Ambassadors.

Gallery experiences for a range of audiences

During 2004 the Young Ambassadors provided tailored gallery tours and workshops for around 700 people from a range of organisations including: secondary schools; The Visy Cares Centre (Youth Substance Abuse Society and Work for the Dole programs); Gateway Program, Jesuit Social Services; Visionary Images; Whitelion; Kensington Community High School; Oasis (alternative school); Swinburne TAFE; Victorian Secondary School for the Deaf; Monash Gallery of Art 'Our View' Youth Photography Project; Bronte Foundation (young women with eating disorders); Centre for Adolescent Health; Arts Victoria; 18th World Conference on Health Promotion and Health Education; Next Wave Festival; Maningrida Women's Centre; Churinga Support Services, Gawith Villa, Melba Support Services, Boomerang Club (young people and adults with mental health issues and disabilities).