Young people need greater access to creative arts opportunities that are too exclusive for most of them, according to the head of a major arts organisation.

Mia Patoulios, the chief executive of Sydney Youth Orchestra, said with funding for the arts at an all-time low, community events are essential for the future of youth arts.

“I think that often when we put orchestras behind closed doors and ticket prices and put them in places like the Opera House or the Conservatorium of Music, it can be quite exclusionary,” she told Central News.

“They need opportunities, particularly through youth arts organisations, to be exposed to lots of different environments.

“Not all young people come from families that have a strong arts tradition, and so it’s really important that schools and education environments expose them to things that are different and new, and it can help them blossom in their own creative expression.”

Sydney Youth Orchestra’s recent The Big Busk is one of the ways Patoulios said arts institutions are developing public engagement and providing young musicians with the opportunity to perform for large groups of people in open areas.

Youth orchestras performed at Pitt Street Mall, Market City, Parramatta and several other locations throughout the city for The Big Busk recently, with performers ranging in ages from five to 25.

Ailsa Fulcher, the orchestra’s artistic programming manager, said the event raises money to support the organisation’s program and was an essential avenue to continue support for youth performers.

It’s really important that orchestras actually embrace our community and make sure that we’re acceptable to everybody.

“It’s a great chance for us to reach the wider community, people that might not have heard of us before,” she said.

“I think fundamentally young people deserve and need to explore themselves creatively.”

The Big Busk started five years ago in Sydney and has since expanded to Adelaide in 2023, and will include Melbourne youth orchestras from next year, a total of 15 orchestras nationally.

“We need to make sure we’re accessible to everyone. All the money raised goes directly toward the musicians,” said Patoulios.

“You probably won’t ever want to be in [an orchestra] or maybe buy a ticket to go and see one, so we think it’s really important that orchestras actually embrace our community and make sure that we’re acceptable to everybody.”

Mikki, aged 10, who plays violin in one of the Sydney orchestras said: “I’m excited because I get to raise money for instruments and stuff like that.”

Proceeds from The Big Busk pay for physical sheet music, printers, music stands, fans, and lights.

“These things really benefit the whole organisation, so it’s really about the young musicians fundraising for things that they physically use,” Patoulios added.

“[The event] is kind of nerve-racking but I like it.”

Main image by Sophie Sutherland.