JANUARY IN REVIEW

January marked a significant threshold for The Forge Institute. 

After months of planning, consultation, and rapid groundwork, the Institute moved fully into action - welcoming young people into creative spaces that prioritise skill, confidence, expression, and belonging.

Across photography, drawing, painting, and performance-based makeup, January has shown not only what is possible, but what is desired and needed from our local youth. Attendance has been strong, engagement during workshops has been deeply considered, and feedback, from both parents and participants has been overwhelmingly affirming.

One of the most impactful pieces of feedback that I have been forwarded to date was this message sent to another parent to be passed on to me:

“Hey, I saw Mark today and got chatting.  He reminded me about The Forge Institute - I talked to ___ and showed her straight away - she was super keen which is amazing!!! When I explained to her their mission statement, she immediately felt at ease and that she would be accepted and welcomed there!!!! So I signed her up for the art workshop!! Please forward on that feedback to Ivy’s Dad as I am overjoyed, as ___ has declined EVERYTHING else I have tried to get her to be a part of!

Please share with him that he has made a difference already and made a Mum (me) in our community so happy that her daughter felt drawn to this because of what they stand for and that they are creating a local safe space for our teens!! He should be very proud.“  

Moments like this are a powerful reminder that the value of creative spaces cannot always be measured by attendance alone, but by who feels able to walk through the door in the first place. That sense of safety, welcome, and quiet permission to participate is the foundation on which The Forge Institute is being built. Below is a briefly compiled reflection on the programs delivered throughout January so far,  the workshops, the outcomes, and the voices of the young people and families who have engaged with them so far. 

Studio Lighting 101 [January, 3 sessions]

Studio Lighting 101 was delivered across three sessions throughout January, each welcoming between four and six students into a professional photographic environment. Across the series, students worked with three different models, including a professional dancer, an experience that elevated both the technical and interpersonal aspects of the class.

Beyond learning lighting ratios, modifiers, and exposure control, students were asked to direct, communicate, and collaborate. Confidence grew rapidly from session to session, as participants moved from tentative experimentation to deliberate creative decision-making.

The response to these sessions has been consistently strong, with students expressing pride in their outcomes and an eagerness for further workshops!

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“Thanks heaps for the workshop! It was so much fun!! And I learnt more from that one workshop than a whole year in media specialism at school last year”
- Grace [Participant] 

“I thought the last workshop was great but OMG that was so amazing and so much fun!! Thank you so much!!”
- Grace… a week later

“Thank you so much for yesterday x Honestly, _____ enjoyed every second of it. She’s gone full bore into “how can I build my own studio” mode lmao!  She was nervous about going so it was really nice to see that she got so much out of it”
- Eloise [Parent]

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Life Drawing [Fortnightly]

The first Life Drawing session ran on Thursday January 22nd and immediately set a powerful benchmark for the Institute’s studio culture. Twelve students attended the inaugural class, working from a professional life model in a focused, respectful, and highly engaged environment.

The atmosphere in the room was one of concentration and quiet confidence. Students supported one another naturally, shared materials and insights, and demonstrated a level of maturity that challenged many assumptions about young people and disciplined creative practice.

Feedback following the session was exceptionally positive, and the decision was made to continue Life Drawing as a fortnightly ongoing offering, recognising both demand and impact.

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“It was amazing.  Really special to be a part of it.  Thank you all.”
- Charlotte [Participant]

“Last Thursday’s class was amazing! You guys did a great job running it.  I have to say that it was much better than a drawing class I took at _____ in terms of organisation and instruction.  The environment you created allowed me to take a lot more away from those two-ish hours than a whole semester of classes.”
- Jasmine [Participant]

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Stage & Drag Makeup [January, day workshop]

On Sunday 25 January, the Institute delivered a six-hour Stage & Drag Makeup intensive, held within the Burrinja dressing rooms and main theatre spaces. Six students participated across the full day, engaging deeply with concepts of performance makeup, transformation, exaggeration, and identity.

This workshop stood out not only for its creative boldness, but for the confidence it fostered. Students were encouraged to be unapologetically expressive, to take risks, and to see theatrical makeup as both technical craft and personal language.

Parental feedback following the workshop was particularly strong, with many noting visible increases in confidence, self-expression, and excitement to continue exploring creative pathways.

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“Absolutely amazing time the girls had.  ____ loved it so much and would do it again and again.  In fact if you ever want to run weekly classes ____ would love to and I am sure ____ would too.  Thanks for creating this space.”
- Natalie [Parent]

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On Youth Leadership & Engagement

One of the most encouraging developments this month has been the response to the Youth Ambassador Program. Within weeks of opening expressions of interest, 14 young people signed up, signalling a strong desire not just to participate, but to shape, advocate for, and help grow the Institute itself.

This early uptake confirms that young people are seeking meaningful agency.  They are actively wanting to hold a voice in the spaces they belong to, and the Youth Ambassador Program will continue to be developed as a core pillar of The Forge Institute’s ethos.

Furthering TFI’s Foundations & Credibility

Alongside program delivery, significant work has continued behind the scenes. Registration with the ACNC is progressing, with social enterprise accreditation moving through preparatory stages ahead of a planned February submission.

Initial outreach for the Education Ambassador Program has been sent to local schools across the Dandenong Ranges and surrounding districts, opening conversations around partnership, student support, and creative pathways beyond the classroom.

Looking Ahead

January has shown that The Forge Institute is not an abstract idea…  It is a living, responsive space shaped by the young people who enter it. The strength of engagement, the quality of work produced, and the trust shown by families all point toward a future built on care, consistency, and creative rigour.

As we move into February, the focus will be on consolidating programs, formalising leadership pathways, and continuing to listen closely to the voices of those this Institute exists to serve.

This is only the beginning, but it is a bloody strong one.