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In a changing media environment, children and young people use screens to communicate on a daily basis. 

Tricia Ryan, Head of NIDA Open says the environment has impacted on the culture and creative aspirations of the young people coming to their courses.

‘More young people than ever before are interested in screen-based storytelling. When we ask children what kind of artist they want to be, many say ‘I want to be YouTube presenter.’ Most of them certainly know how to operate a camera and at NIDA we are keen to work with young people to develop an empowering and respectful screen culture for the next generation of Australian storytellers,’ she says.

NIDA Open creates a world of learning with both drama and screen acting courses in Brisbane during school terms.

‘Guided by expert practitioners our courses teach children and young people how to navigate the stage, film and TV world, and how to express their own creativity within that,’ says Tricia. ‘We teach children and young people how to present themselves in what is a very different and changing media environment. In a broader sense it’s also about looking at the way people use communication skills. The courses teach children and young people how to bring a narrative to life in any performance environment.’

‘Children and young people are the new content creators of our time. How their screen habits will change our lives is yet to be seen. It’s interesting that while our new media courses very quickly sell out, there is still a strong interest in our non-screen acting and musical theatre courses for young people keen to explore live performance,’ says Tricia.

Every Saturday and Sunday during the school term in Brisbane talented, curious and creative children and young people immerse themselves in the practical, skill-based performing arts learning that NIDA is famous for.

‘Brisbane students are really enjoying the high calibre and quality of these classes,’ says Tricia. ‘Apart from the new skills learnt, the children and young people are finding others who share their same passion, and connecting outside of school in whole new ways.’

Courses for children and young people in Brisbane are held at NIDA’s state-of-the-art studios at TAFE Brisbane on the South Bank, Queensland Academies Creative Industries at Kelvin Grove and Chapel Hill Uniting Church.