Arts Centre Melbourne’s flagship hip-hop and urban music mentoring program Dig Deep supports the development of young people aged 14 to 22 on Tuesday evenings in the Digital Learning Hub. A diverse range of young artists work with a team of established hip-hop practitioners to create and present new work, develop peer mentorship skills and collaborate with young artists from other creative disciplines.
“Dig Deep has taught me that it doesn’t matter who is better…but the importance of doing your own thing…being authentic.”
Participant
Through it’s utilisation of music as a positive form of expression and social connection and a strong community referral network, Dig Deep has established itself as a benchmark in the development of tomorrows rappers, singers and music producers in both metropolitan and regional areas.
“…the program clearly achieves its goal of increasing the professional and personal development of young emerging artists…”
Clare Keating, Effective Change
Dig Deep establishes a collective, creative working environment in the form of ongoing series of weekly workshops. The Digital Learning Hub is located behind Arts Centre Melbourne’s Theatres Building (the one with the spire on top of it!). Walk to the Theatres Building, go around the back and across the little footbridge and you are there. See below for a map.
“You don’t get this level of training and the high level of skills of the mentors anywhere else.”
Referrer
The Dig Deep Mentorship Program is delivered by the following key personnel:
Arts Centre Melbourne’s Youth Programmer Dan West has wide experience developing and delivering music mentorship programs that focus on contemporary music for inner–urban disadvantaged youth. He has coordinated these programs at both through his work at the Alfred Brash SoundHouse at the Arts Centre and externally – including work at Multicultural Arts Victoria and Melbourne Juvenile Justice Centre. As well as an arts educator, Dan is also an experienced performer and facilitator of arts events which provide a wealth of creative networks to draw upon.
• Mentor Robert Tremlett (aka Mantra) is one of Australia’s most respected hip-hop lyricists, best known for his work as a solo artist as well as with Melbourne outfits Illzilla and Equills. In addition to a busy performance schedule, Robert devotes much of his creative energy to working with young people, facilitating Hip-hop workshops and mentorship programs for disadvantaged and at risk youth throughout Victoria. He has worked at Parkville Youth Residential Centre, Baltara School and Secure Welfare facilities, Living Music and Freeza.
• Studio specialist Glen Christiansen (aka Ptero_Stylus) from is a Melbourne based musician and producer. He has worked with Mista Savona, Blue King Brown, TZU, Elf Tranzporter, Illzilla, Morganics and Labjacd. Glen worked as a mentor on both DIG DEEP and Urban Aftershock, mentoring young musicians in song writing, performance and recording. Glen also works at Gateway in Collingwood as a resident musician and sound engineer. Gateway is a Jesuit Social Services initiative for young at risk people to create art in a positive and safe environment.
• Singing specialist Hailey Cramer currently performs with MC Pez and can be heard on the Festival Song and These Days singles. She also writes and performs with her own group and has worked with Blue King Brown. Hailey is an inspirational singer and gets all she works with into fine voice.
• Mentor Mohamed Komba (aka MC Momo) migrated to Australia from the Comoros Islands in the early eighties and has been performing with Diafrix for six years. An established emcee and producer, Mohamed teaches production, song writing, performance techniques and music industry skills to provide youth with the confidence required to peruse a career in the arts.
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