For 27 years, the Fairfax Youth Initiative has creatively engaged young people from rural Australia

Our manifesto

Unleash the power and full creative potential of young people from rural Australia, and create a lasting impact on the Murray Mallee region

Our mission

To provide creative experiences that are extraordinary and life changing for young people from rural communities.

Our creative heart =
Fairfax Youth Festival

A gathering like no other.
A life changing creative jamboree

The Fairfax Festival, proudly presented by the Fairfax Youth Initiative and Swan Hill Rural City Council, has been a beacon of creativity in the Murray Mallee for over 25 years. This remarkable youth arts festival opens doors to the world of arts for rural youth by connecting them with seasoned professionals through a vibrant week of workshops, rehearsals, and electrifying performances. It serves as a dynamic gathering for young, like-minded creatives to forge connections and discover their sense of belonging. The festival stands tall as a cultural hallmark, uniting hundreds of young individuals from regional Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia to revel in creativity and collaboration.

We live and die by our values

creativity

Young people are capable, creative leaders and deserve opportunities to develop platforms to showcase their voice

community

Young people are capable, creative leaders and deserve opportunities to develop platforms to showcase their voice

connection

Unite our vast region, reduce isolation, and cultivate new connections and new possibilities

celebration

Create invigorating, joyful and transformative experiences

Powered by our team of incredible youth associates

Emma Kelly

Musician, actor, theatre maker, from Swan Hill and currently studying education at Latrobe University Bendigo
Meg Richardson

Singer, actor, dancer, theatre maker & musician, recent graduate from the Ballarat Arts Academy at Federation University, originally from Gol Gol in the Sunraysia District
Bayden Clayton

Creative Producer of the Marruk Project. A young and creative First Nations leader and a long-term associate of the Fairfax Youth Festival
Toni Mia Scalora

Vice Chair of Swan Hill Theatre Company, passionate about promoting performing arts in Swan Hill and studying education.
Claudia Cox

Fom Sealake, Claudia is a social media and communications whiz, has led the social media and communications for Rural Inspire and is a former Rural Youth Ambassador and ABC Heywire participant.
Deniz Karakaya

Deniz is from Red Cliffs, is a creative young leader with experience in performance and dance. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of South Australia.
Sammy Mullan

Sammy is 19, and from Lalbert. A young leader passionate about creative expression and an alumni of the Fairfax program. A key driver of the Fairfax Film Project.
Deaken Fawcett

Musician, songwriter, and creative leader. Gannawarra Shire Council Young Citizen of the Year. Deaken is 19 from Kerang.

Led by a champion of rural communities & rural Australia

Bryce Ives, our Artistic Director, has led some of regional Australia's most significant game-changing and creative projects. He is highly regarded for his work with young people from rural and regional Australia.

Honouring an incredible legacy

The Swan Hill Rural City Council has been the proud custodian of the Fairfax Youth Festival for 27 years. Beginning in 1997 as The George Fairfax Memorial Regional Schools’ Theatre Festival, the Festival has regularly been presented in the Mallee region based around Swan Hill, Robinvale and Mildura.

The festival celebrates the memory of George Fairfax AM, a leading light in the Australian and international theatre scenes, who grew up in Nangiloc, a small town in the region. George was a driving force in establishing the Victorian Arts Centre in Melbourne and a youth arts and creativity champion.