Wednesday, 8 June 2022

Victoria Street Alive!

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (09:47): I would like to congratulate Victoria Street Alive!, a terrific initiative in North Richmond. It has been run by the tireless Judy Ryan and Greg Hordacre, who have just been working so hard behind the scenes. Victoria Street Alive! opened the inaugural medically supervised injecting room artists exhibition, My Community, on Friday, 3 June, and its official opening will be tomorrow. The objective of Victoria Street Alive! has been to amplify the voices and achievements of young artists and the disadvantaged through a program of arts and cultural events and activities. This exhibition marks the end of their first successful year of community activation.

The people who visit the supervised injecting room are assisted to reduce the harms of injecting and are offered a range of clinical and social supports that are tailored to each client. This has given clients the opportunity to create art while at the centre, and it is that art that will be on exhibition tomorrow. The artwork will be offered for sale by silent auction, with the proceeds going directly to the artists. There are three Victoria Street Alive! events in June in North Richmond: the My Community art exhibition; the second makers market at Abbots Yard on 19 June; and an installation of street posters designed by our young residents in workshops held at the Richmond housing estate throughout May, and that commenced last week on 1 June. Well done.