PROJECTS
A Young Mermaid's Guide to Planet Earth
A Young Mermaid's Guide to Planet Earth (Mermaids) is a project for young women. The Mermaids project has an understanding of the issues that are impacting on the lives of young people and uses creative ways to help young people have a voice and express themselves using the arts.
The last Mermaids project was STICK FIGURE, offered by A Young Mermaid's Guide to Planet Earth between November 2005 and March 2006. This collaboration between Mermaids, kneeHigh Puppeteers and the YWCA of Adelaide culminated in performances at the Adelaide Fringe 06. STICK FIGURE was aimed at exploring interrelated themes of body image, public images of women, disordered eating, and diversity. The project involved a group of 23 young women in a multi artform workshop process to design and create a short processional performance piece, drawing on large scale puppeteering, circus/physical theatre, and percussion. The project culminated in six performances and a public workshop, including the International Women's Day Festival and the launch of Youth Week.
The project was called STICK FIGURE as this invoked the idea of starting with a blank slate, creating alternative figures of women for parading and challenging body image stereotypes. The project focussed on supporting the wellbeing of young women involved through their participation in artmaking processes that encouraged critical thinking, risk taking and public confidence. STICK FIGURE was a successful example of health and the arts working together to achieve a positive health promoting message.
A Young Mermaid's Guide to Planet Earth is committed to providing
artistic opportunities for young people to work through the
issues that impact on their lives. We work in partnership
with health organisations around the state to get in touch
with young people and develop projects that fit their health
needs.
For more information about the project please contact the Project Officer.
