Media release - ORYGEN creates art for human rights

04/07/2007

ORYGEN Youth Health’s school holiday program is developing an arts project to portray human rights. The young people have been working with community artist Marion Singer on a project initiated by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

Ms Singer has been contracted by the Commission to work with different community groups to produce artwork that depicts the human rights contained in the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities, which came into effect in January this year.

The human rights themes of freedom, respect, equality and dignity will be explored by each community group and represented in a series of photographs and collages to be exhibited by the Commission at the end of the year.

“The young people have developed an understanding of the basic principles of human rights and have learnt practical skills in photography and the visual expression of ideas,” Ms Singer said.

Marion Singer is an experienced community artist with a strong history of working with people from a diverse range of backgrounds to create meaningful art.

Commission Chief Executive Officer Dr Helen Szoke said the project was an innovative way of building awareness of the Charter of Human Rights in the community.

“We hope that human rights awareness within the community will grow as it is passed on from these young people to their peers and families,” she said.

ORYGEN Youth Health is a service providing help to young people in the western area of Melbourne who have experienced mental health issues.

Ms Singer and the Commission will work on future arts projects in the coming months with a group of older Turkish gardeners, a disability group and a regional single mothers group. The art will be exhibited by the Commission in December.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:
1.30pm
Thursday July 5
ORYGEN Youth Health
35 Poplar Rd
Parkville

Media enquiries to Jessica Ardley, (03) 9281 7133 or 0428 881 254