FRONT: where creative energy meets the creative possibility of an empty shopfront

In June 2023, weekend shoppers in Perth’s CBD noticed something a little different on offer in a Forrest Place retail store.

Surf rolling into the city with a shiver—yes, really—of sharks. Giant tangles of blossoms, leaves and vines. Murals birthed by collaborative colour, walls papered with salvaged words, air animated by rap and performance.

And the collective energy of young people transforming an inner-city ‘blank canvas’ into art- forms that amplify their voices and explore themes of identity, wellbeing, nature and relationships to the city.

Welcome to FRONT, a free youth project which staged a creative takeover of an empty shopfront in the heart of Perth’s CBD.

Over three weekends during June, groups of 12 to 26 year old's collaborated with sculptors, poets, muralists and multidisciplinary artists on installations and activations aimed at helping foster a sense of wellbeing and connection to the urban environment. Passers-by could witness and interact with the evolving installations and outcomes in real-time, adding to the texture and atmosphere of the CBD experience.

FRONT was open to all for wandering, creating & relaxing 10-4pm each weekend. A space to book into creative workshops for young people, pop by for a drop-in workshop with the family, or just explore and relax in the space.


Upstairs at Forrest Chase, facing the green cactus.
All workshops were free of charge.


1st Weekend: Sat 10th – Sun 11th June - Bringing Nature into the City
Dive under the surf to swim with collaged sharks and wander between giant paper flowers as Kaitlyn Elsegood & Carrissa Wu take over FRONT with an immersive paper-crafted world.

2nd Weekend: Sat 17th – Sun 18th June - Urban Landscapes and Street Art
Splash paint across the walls & bring a mural to life! Young emerging artists have worked with portrait and mural artist Tankateo to design a collaborative public artwork inside the FRONT space, and we want you to help paint it.

3rd Weekend: Sat 24th – Sun 25th June -Identity & Youth Empowerment
Wander through a world of words and stories – spoken, illustrated, performed, and collaged. Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa, Joel Evans, Perun Bonser, Amanda Kendle and Claire Davenhall take over FRONT to guide young people in transforming their stories into art.

Competition!

Our friends Oli Clothing, the Butchers Shop and Chicho Gelato have kindly donated some wonderful prizes to celebrate FRONT.

There’s an amazing prize pack to be won each weekend! Every pack includes a $250 Oli Clothing Voucher, a Butcher Shop gift bag (including art materials, magazines, a gift voucher & more), and a delicious $20 Chicho Gelato Voucher!

You can enter by popping along to the FRONT space and completing one (or both!) of the following entries:
1. Answer a few questions on a short survey: enter here!
2. Snap a photo of FRONT and tag @scribblersfest.
*You get an extra entry for every partner you tag. @oliclothing @the_butcher_shop @chichogelato

Full T&C's available here.

FRONT Catapultcast - with Amanda Kendle

As part of FRONT, Amanda Kendle, together with Claire Davenhall spent a weekend taking a willing bunch of Perth teenagers through a process of catapulting them 10 years in the future and imagining how they hope and plan to make their mark on the world.

Claire worked with these teens to create amazing artworks from books and magazines rescued from landfill, which can be seen
HERE

They then shared their thoughts and ideas with Amanda to create these podcasts.

Creatives

Scribblers developed FRONT as a public celebration of  FORM’s Creative Learning program. Our primary objective is to instil the importance of books and creativity in young people's lives, as tools to help them thrive in, understand, and communicate with the world around them.

Explore the creatives who took over the FRONT space.

Kristin Connolly

Kristin has been using stories to understand the world around and within her for as long as she can remember. This has led her around the world - as a graphic designer in St. Louis, a Travel Director through South Africa, a travel photographer in Eastern Europe, as an Art & Creative Director in Chicago, a volunteer English teacher in Peru, a freelance Creative Director in Denver, and eventually landing in sunny Perth.

lovecommakristin.comText Link

Sally Bower

Sally Bower is a visual ar tist based in Walyalup/Fremantle, Western Australia. Known for her versatile design and art practice that champions creatures, objects of everyday utility and the romance of physical recreation.

Working as an artist and designer for 10 years. Her practice began in fashion and textiles, followed by a journey through styling, art direction and visual arts.

instagram.com/delimatesText Link

Amanda Kendle

Amanda Kendle is a podcaster and travel writer with a bent for finding out the stories nobody's heard yet. She has hosted and published The Thoughtful Travel Podcast since 2016 and works with kids, teens and adults to help them learn about podcasting via the Creative Schools program and at Murdoch University.

amandakendle.comText Link

Claire Davenhall

Claire Davenhall is an International Artist who graduated from Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art Sculpture, and studied at both North Karelia Polytechnic in Finland and Athens School of Fine Art. She exhibits her work in beautiful locations such as Sculpture by the Sea, Swell Sculpture Festival, Castaways and Brighton Jetty Sculptures.

clairedavenhallvisualartist.comText Link

Tankateo

French artist Tankateo studied Fine Art and Design, working as a graphic designer until 2010. After traveling, Tankateo based herself in Perth, where she has refined her drawing skills and turned her hand to quirky portraits and murals. She is always looking for collaborations with local creatives and has a particular passion for street art and working with young people.

tankateo.comText Link

Carrissa Wu

Carrissa Wu is an artist and entrepreneur from Singapore based in Walyalup (Fremantle). During COVID she was stood down from her job and started making paper flowers from home. Now she runs her business Jotterbook Flowers, hosting paper flower-making workshops and creating Giant Paper Flowers. Carrissa's work has been seen in House & Garden UK, frankie and Sunday Times Magazine.

jotterbookflowers.comText Link

Kaitlyn Elsegood

Kaitlyn Elsegood is an independent artist based in Hami Heights. Her practice is currently focused on national identity, exploring division within communities and pursuing opportunities to expand her skills in creating art. Kaitlyn currently works with FORM's Creative Schools Program and as a Creative Producer at the City of Melville, having previously worked with various local councils and arts organisations.

kaitlynelsegood.comText Link

Joel Evans

Joel is a spoken word poet and creative producer who graduated from Deakin University with a Degree in Contemporary Arts, and worked as a freelance actor for a number of years, before returning to study to complete a Masters of Education. They’ve worked as a Teaching Artist, Assistant Product, Education Assistant, Outreach Coordinator and Senior Performing Arts Programmer, for various arts organisations including Bunjil Place, Western Edge Youth Arts, and the Malthouse Theatre.

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Perun Bonser

Perun Bonser is a Ngarluma filmmaker with over a decade of writing and directing experience. Perun has written and directed several short films including the horror anthology ‘Dark Place – The Shore’ (ABC), as well as ‘Blight’ (ABC), ‘Fighter’ (NITV), and ‘Shadows of Displacement’ (NITV). In 2022, Perun was selected as AIDC's inaugural recipient of the Indigenous Documentary Placement at the ABC in Sydney. Perun is currently Series Director, Story Producer and Co-Writer of ‘Our Law’ - Season 1 & 2, which is currently streaming on SBS On Demand.

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Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa

Sukhjit is a creative producer with a background in performing & writing. Her work as a multi-form artist for the last ten years has been recognised at the Performing Arts WA Awards (2020), Mona Brand Writing Awards (2022), Young Australian of the Year (2022), and WA Multicultural Awards (2022). Her passion for storytelling began as a finalist in the Australian Poetry Slam (2014), semi-finalist on Australia’s Got Talent (2016) and winner of The Moth GrandSLAM (2019). Sukhjit released her debut hip hop single, COLLECTABLES, earlier this year.

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Partners

FRONT was produced by FORM Building a State of Creativity's Scribblers Festival in partnership with Propel Youth Arts.

This project was funded by the State Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, and has been kindly sponsored by ISPT's Forrest Chase, North Metropolitan TAFE and IKEA Perth.
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Access

All Festival venues are wheelchair accessible

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