Talented young locals will be the stars in two upcoming events to be held during Mental Health Month in October.
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Gunnedah Shire Council's Showcase of Talent and headspace Gunnedah's Youth Art Showcase will aim to provide a safe space for youth in town to display their artistic talents.
The Showcase of Talent will be held at the Smithurst Theatre on Thursday, October 3 from 6pm.
Any young person who wishes to display their talent on stage, whether it be music, singing, magic, or comedy, is welcome to perform in front of an audience - with no pressure of winning.
Former Gunnedah woman Emily Hollingworth came up with the idea for the event as part of her final university class.
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"When I was in school [in Gunnedah], there wasn't a lot of opportunity. People got up and did songs in assembly when people had known talents, but what about people who are talented but haven't had the chance to put their foot in the door?" Miss Hollingworth said.
"I didn't want to make [the Showcase of Talent] a competition, I just wanted to make it fun. Because I wanted people to just have fun and not feel like they had to train."
Gunnedah Shire Council's youth development officer Ellen Valler said it was "a good opportunity for young people to encourage and support each other to pursue what interests them".
"If they're studying music or doing exams it's a great way to practice performing in front of an audience before their exam," Ms Valler said.
"We're trying to make it as supportive and encouraging as possible so it's an inviting place for people to come and perform."
To register to perform, visit the online site.
Art for some people is really therapeutic and helps them regulate and relax and that's sort of the idea behind it.
- headspace Gunnedah's Jayde-Allie Noble
The Youth Art Showcase will be held on Wednesday, October 9 from 2pm-6pm at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery.
The council supported event aims to "reduce stigma around mental health and boost the visibility of some of Gunnedah's local young artists".
headspace Gunnedah's provisional psychologist Jayde-Allie Noble said the showcase was aimed at raising awareness of Mental Health Month and to "focus on the benefits of art for young people's mental health".
"Art for some people is really therapeutic and helps them regulate and relax and that's sort of the idea behind it," Ms Noble said.
"I know there's some young people in the area whose mental health benefits from doing art, and it's an opportunity to be able to share that with the community and hopefully inspire [other] people as well."
Anonymous voting will decide which artwork will win the people's choice prize. Each artwork will be numbered, rather than named, for a fairer approach.
Those aged between 12-25 years-old are encouraged to submit their artworks to headspace Gunnedah by Tuesday, October 8. For more information, contact headspace Gunnedah on 6741 4400.