How can creatives and experts in social impact work together to respond to some of society’s most pressing problems? Can creativity contribute to social change?

These are questions we explored through Future Makers for Change (FMFC), a cross-government initiative to support projects that complement government efforts in areas including family violence, gender equality, social cohesion and mental health.

$2.6 million supported nine projects that explored the role creativity can play in driving to social change.

Future Makers for Change was led by Creative Victoria as an action of the Victorian Government’s first creative industries strategy Creative State 2016-2020.

Who did we work with?

Government partners

Victorian Government investment in FMFC was based on a strong and growing body of statistically significant findings that arts can improve social cohesion and mental wellbeing¹. FMFC is an example of how different areas of government can work together to unlock resources and combine expertise to support this work.

Government funding partners were:

Creative Victoria
VicHealth – the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation
Regional Development Victoria
Office for Prevention of Family Violence and Multicultural and Social Cohesion - both divisions of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH)
FMFC teams raised a further $200,000 cash and $150,000 in-kind support

Creative and social impact partners

With this funding Victorian artists and creatives joined forces with social impact experts to respond to some of the state’s pressing social issues.

Youth mental wellbeing

Digital studio Liminal VR partnered with Wellbeing in Schools Australia on a VR Wellbeing platform exploring youth mental wellbeing
Artist and designer Beci Orpin partnered with mental health charity, Smiling Mind, on a project called META supporting young people’s mental wellbeing through creativity

Attitudes towards Gender equality

Curator Jane Scott partnered with the Royal Women’s Hospital Foundation on an exhibition project called Flesh After Fifty exploring gender equality and positive aging
St Martins Youth Theatre partnered with Minus18, champions for LGBTQIA+ youth, on a project called Escape Velocity exploring young people’s mental wellbeing and gender quality.
Arts and social change company Big hART partnered with two Frankston North schools on a project called Project O exploring gender equality and young people’s engagement in school

Family violence

First Peoples theatre company ILBIJERRI partnered with Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency on a theatre project called Scar Trees exploring family violence

Social cohesion

Next in Colour, a team of five African creative practitioners, partnered with Cohealth Arts Generator on an initiative exploring social justice and equity
Castlemaine based arts organisation Punctum partnered with Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services on a project called the Kultur-All Makaan exploring social cohesion in regional Victoria

Regional opportunity

Theatre-makers Asking for Trouble partnered with Clunes Neighbourhood House on project called Art Attack to create opportunities for young people living in Clunes to engage their creativity