4C’s: Cultivating Creative Cultures with Communities
This year, the 4C’s (Cultivating Creatives Cultures with Communities) celebrated 16 years since its Founder and Director Laitini Matautia-Ulugia started the program. The initiative has engaged students from diverse backgrounds and given them the opportunity to celebrate their heritage and culture in a student-led project. The Erdi Foundation has played a big part in this, having supported the program through philanthropic funding over the last three years.
In partnership with 4C’s student leadership group, Bunjil Place, CMY’s Le Mana Pasifika Project, and several community engagement leads and cultural support, the event was hosted at the Bunjil Place Theatre over two nights in September.
Cranbourne East Secondary College was the lead school this year. The attendance of both events was an incredible success: the opening event on Monday 5th September attracted over 600 participants (including parents, carers, friends, and community members), and the closing night on the 12th of September had over 800 attendees.
The 4C’s cultural performance blew everyone away! Through music, performing cultural dances, and even running a fashion show, the students showcased their incredible diversity. Each school performed for 20-30 minutes and students covered various roles ranging from sound and lighting technicians, stage managers, OH&S officers, and general support staff.
The students also had their stunning visual arts on display at the Bunjil Place Library for family members and the community to engage with: wood carvings, fashion, and digital media showed young people’s extraordinary skills.
Among the prominent cultural groups in the student cohort include Māori and Pacific Islander, Indian, and Middle Eastern communities.
Throughout the school year, the students were required to plan and pitch their ideas to Ms Matautia-Ulugia. Through these activities, students developed skills and understanding that demonstrated learning outcomes contributing to the completion of VCAL units.
CMY’s Le Mana Pasifika team has supported this project for the past five years, liaising with schools, local government and recreational-based organisations to increase the number of activities and programs that are meaningful to Pasifika youth.
Conversations with schools about the legitimacy and effectiveness of teaching methods were fundamental to ensure the 4C’s program can reach students and communities. Schools need support to recognise the value of existing cultural connections.
4C’s Event highlights
Find out more about Le Mana’s work here: https://www.cmy.net.au/young-people-community/community-connections/le-mana-pasifika/