History

CONTACT Inc was formed as an incorporated association in 1989 called CONTACT Youth Theatre, a company driven by a philosophy and practice based on the social justice principles of access and equity. The companyís primary focus was on supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people as participants in a youth theatre context. During the first few years of operation CONTACT Inc experienced strong community demand for inclusion of young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Addressing issues of racism and cultural conflict was a priority for these communities. At the same time CONTACT Inc also began experimenting with various art forms to meet the cultural and artistic needs of young people and their communities.

In 1996 the company formally shifted its focus to a broader cross art-form focus on youth arts and cultural development. This resulted in the company changing its name to CONTACT Inc ñ Youth Arts and Cultural Development. The ethos of social justice remains a corner stone of CONTACT Inc, which is now framed in peace-building language.

The underpinning artistic direction of the company is stimulated via cross-cultural and cross art-form contexts and philosophies, and is firmly grounded in CONTACT Incís Third Place Policy. The Third Place Policy was initiated by CONTACT Inc in 1990 and has become pivotal to the work of CONTACT Inc (add link to the Policy)

CONTACT Inc has a strong history of delivering high quality productions and outcomes over the past 17 years. CONTACT Inc will continue to build on this success to deliver innovative cross-cultural and cross-artform products with young people, particularly from Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Polynesian and refugee and migrant communities. In the past few years CONTACT Inc has shifted to framing this work in a PEACE-BUILDING context, which represents a strategic and exciting move for CONTACT Inc and will ensure the company retains its position as an innovative and relevant community cultural development organisation

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