#EvolveFReeZA: The Push to Save the Next Generation of Contemporary Music Makers, Audiences & Creative Industry Professionals
What’s happening?
Australian youth music organisation The Push with support from Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) is calling on the Victorian Government to #EvolveFReeZA for the next generation of young music makers, audiences and creative industry professionals.
Since 1996 the Victorian Government’s FReeZA program has played an essential role in making Melbourne the live music capital of Australia, with more than 2 million young people having their first live music experience through the program.
The program has provided access to young Victorians aged 12 – 25 living in metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria to stage live music events that are drug, alcohol and smoke-free in supervised and safe venues.
However, the program has not had an increase in funding for more than a decade, not even in line with consumer price index (CPI) and with the rise in event costs, the program’s reach, depth and sustainability into the future is under threat.
To respond to this, The Push and YACVic are urging the Victorian Government increase its investment in the program to $5.6m annually over the next four years, and to evolve the program to reflect changes in technology and youth culture.
To ensure this call is heard, The Push and YACVic are encouraging past and present FReeZA participants, parents, friends and community workers to come forward and support this campaign.
Get involved!
What’s the outcome?
More opportunities for young audiences to access fully supervised, all-ages live music events
Increased paid employment and engagement of music industry practitioners as event contractors and program mentors
Increased live performance opportunities for both young emerging artists and established touring artists
Greater scope for youth workers to be resourced appropriately to support young people in their local communities
Opportunities for young people to be employed as peer workers across the program
Build online capacity across the program, reflective of the ways young people are creating and consuming contemporary music
Frequently asked questions
+ What is FReeZA?
FReeZA is a youth development program that since 1996 has played an essential role in making Melbourne the live music capital of Australia. The program provides opportunities for young Victorians aged 12 – 25 across metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria to lead the staging of music events that are drug, alcohol and smoke-free in supervised and safe venues.
+ What needs to change?
There has been no increase in program funding in more than a decade and currently, the program doesn’t increase in line with CPI. Adequate levels of funding need to be restored in order for the program to continue delivering high quality events and an ability to continue building community connectedness in a COVID Normal world.
+ What is Evolve FReeZA all about?
Evolve FReeZA is a public advocacy campaign led by youth music organisation The Push and the Youth Affairs Council Victoria. The campaign seeks to rally community support and call on the Victorian Government to Evolve FReeZA for the next generation.
+ Why now?
With the work currently being undertaken by the Victorian Government through the new Creative State and Youth Strategy, The Push believes that now is the time to Evolve FReeZA and build on its success for the next generation.
+ What is The Push’s role in the delivery of FReeZA?
Since its initial involvement in the 1996 pilot program, The Push has been a key partner in the successful delivery of FReeZA for almost 25 years. The Push provides ongoing support to all 77 FReeZA teams across the state through the FReeZA Support Service. As a community-focused not-for-profit organisation with a history embedded deep into the contemporary music industry, The Push is able to connect FReeZA teams to various industry professionals and businesses via its relationship to industry.
+ How long has the FReeZA program been running?
24 years. An entire generation of Victorians, artists and music industry professionals have been brought up through FReeZA programs across the state.
+ What can I do to help?
- Share your story about your time involved in FReeZA and encourage those around you to do the same.
- Share the campaign to your networks via social media, email or other means.
- Support us by making a tax-deductible donation to The Push. By doing so, you’ll help cover the costs of resourcing this campaign.
+ How will this impact the future of the program?
Together we can demonstrate the long-term impact of this program and safeguard the program’s future and support for the next generation of young people. The program needs to realign itself with the changing ways young people are engaging not only with contemporary music, but more broadly across our communities.
Get in touch
For all media enquiries, please contact Brandon Le Gallez, Communications & Community Engagement Manager at The Push on 0407 362 459 or email brandon@thepush.com.au.
Alternatively, you may contact Thomas Feng, Media & Communications Manager at Youth Affairs Council Victoria on 0431 285 275 or email tfeng@yacvic.org.au.
Evolve FReeZA is a campaign led by The Push and Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic).