YOUNG creatives with a passion for music, film, design or games are being invited behind the curtain of the creative industries at a hands-on taster day hosted by Mount Pleasant College next month.
Set for August 8 at the Booragoon campus, CREATE is a one-day event packed with practical workshops, inspiring panels and direct access to working professionals across WA’s creative scene.
It’s open to high school students and aspiring artists who want a real-world look at turning passion into profession.
The event is the first of its kind from Mount Pleasant College—WA’s only Registered Training Organisation dedicated solely to the creative industries—and aims to bridge a gap in industry connection for younger people.
“We saw a real gap in the creative arts space locally—there just weren’t enough opportunities for young people to connect meaningfully with real-world creatives,” the College’s special events coordinator Mia Matthessien said.
“We wanted to create something that could give the next generation access to the kind of experience and industry stories they often miss out on.”
Keynote speaker DREA, a WAM Song of the Year nominee and former Australian Idol finalist, will kick off the day with a talk titled Making Your Art Work for You—a deep dive into portfolio building, authenticity and the highs and lows of creative careers.
• DJ Drea will be performing at CREATE.
Talent
“There’s so much more to succeeding in the arts than talent alone,” Ms Matthessien says.
“It’s about resilience, flexibility, and staying true to your voice in an industry that can be both shiny and tough.”
The breakout sessions cover four streams—Music & Sound, Graphic Design, Film, and Game Design & Animation — where industry pros will walk students through their creative processes, share works-in-progress, and answer the kinds of questions you don’t hear in a typical classroom.
Presenters include Marcus Wong, filmmaker with Compassion Australia; Jonathan Shaw, cinematographer at Limitless Studios; and Adam Fisher, senior character artist at Epic Games.
The afternoon panel session brings the day’s speakers back together to reflect on their own journeys and take questions from students.
Mount Pleasant College hopes the event becomes a launchpad for the next generation of local creatives — and a regular fixture in Perth’s creative calendar.
“We’re hoping this event has a significant and lasting impact—not just for attendees, but for the creative industries in Perth as a whole,” Ms Matthessien said.
Your chance to WIN
To celebrate the launch, the Herald is giving away double passes to CREATE. To go in the draw, email your name, age, school and creative passion to news@fremantleherald.com with CREATE in the subject line by July 26. Winners will be contacted directly.
For tickets and event info, head to www.mtpleasant.wa.edu.au/create.