NOISE ON THE BILLBOARDS

The aptly named ‘Billboard project’ has given five young Australian artists the opportunity to win space for their artworks to be displayed nationally on outdoor billboards. Three young artists have also had their artwork featured on Avant Card postcards for national distribution in cafes, restaurants and cinemas.

Partners Reach Out! and NOISE ran the ‘Billboard’ project to showcase young people’s art in an urban environment.

Entrants aged under 25 were asked to artistically interpret the statement ‘Where Is My Mind’. Inspiration and reference was invited to be taken from the Reach Out! website www.reachout.com.au, a national web based service that provides online info to help young people get through tough times.

Talented young artists whose artwork will be displayed in on outdoor billboards for the next month are Timothy Molloy, on Alexandria Parade in Fitzroy, Victoria; Kate Mitchell, on Victoria Road in Gladesville, New South Wales; Benjamin Constantine, in Rozelle, New South Wales and Erin Flannery, in Bowen Hills, Queensland and more to be announced.

Matt Byrne, Outdoor Advertising Consultant for Rova Media supplied the strategy and Network Outdoor have kindly supplied the space for the Billboard project. Byrne said “supporting the Billboard project with free media space has been a great opportunity for us. It means a lot that we can be involved in projects that really inspire young people and let them realise that they are not alone in this crazy world”.

The artists work will also be showcased online at www.noise.net.au and www.reachout.com.au with interviews with the artists featured as well.

New South Wales Billboard artist Kate Mitchell said that having her art displayed “is such a fantasy come true in a child like sense, because it’s a space (generally) used by media moguls so it’s inspiring that Reach Out! has been able to utilise such a prominent visual tool for more grass roots issues.”

Reach Out! was established in 1998 response to escalating rates of youth suicide and designed to utilise the opportunities presented by the Internet while complementing existing sources of support for young people.

The Reach Out! service is anonymous and confidential and provides practical information to young people 24/7. Reach Out! is an initiative of the Inspire Foundation.

NOISE is a youth arts initiative that develops and profiles young artists and their work across radio, television, in print and online.

NOISE is unique because it hangs creative works across the media, rather than on gallery walls.

NOISE is an Australian Federal Government initiative managed by The Australia Council with a charter to partner with public and private organizations on a not-for-profit basis.

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