Music initiatives are creating a positive social impact in communities across Australia. These music activities are often known and valued by their local communities, but tend to remain invisible on a larger, collective scale. Up until now, we have not had a national picture of the significant social and cultural benefits these community music activities are making to the lives of many Australians. The Creative Change Project has set out to begin sketching this national picture.
In 2023, we surveyed over 100 music programs from all States and Territories working to address a wide range of social issues, and creating more socially equitable, just, and well communities across the country. In this national picture, we show how these community music programs are fostering greater wellbeing, building social connections, improving community cohesion, creating visibility and opportunities for diverse artists, increasing access to creative expression, and promoting cultural and environmental sustainability.
This collection of programs illustrates the powerful potential of music to create positive change on individual, community, and societal levels, and to inform a ‘creative turn’ in current policies and programs tackling growing social inequity.
