A recently approved Lotterywest grant means that the youth throughout Perth will have the opportunity to embrace and learn various components of hip hop culture in workshops facilitated by some of Perth’s best hip hop artists.

The Hon Nick Goiram MLC, South Metropolitan said, “Hiphop not only gives young people a voice, but hip hop music has also been identified as an effective tool in reaching out to young people from diverse cultural and low socio-economic backgrounds and address youth related issues such as depression, racism and disconnection with the broader community”.

The workshops, co-funded by Healthway – “Smarter than Smoking” and the Department for Communities will be offered at youth centres throughout March, and will cover break dancing, MC-ing, DJ-ing and urban art. They are also designed to build skills in the lead-up to the ‘Freestyle – Masters of Hiphop’ on the 9th of April, 2011. See our website for more information.

Additional funding from Beyond Blue has meant the program can be extended into the regional areas of Northam and Merredin with full day workshops and events to be held in each town and give regional youth the opportunity to participate in the Freestyle – Masters of Hiphop Festival on 9th April in Perth.