Community Music and
Social Impact Map
Music programs are creating a positive social impact in communities across Australia. These music activities are often known and valued by their local communities, but tend to remain invisible on a larger, collective scale. Up until now, we have not had a national picture of the significant social and cultural benefits these community music activities are making to the lives of many Australians. The Creative Change Project has set out to begin sketching this national picture.
In 2023, we surveyed over 100 music programs from all States and Territories working to address a wide range of social issues, and creating more socially equitable, just, and well communities across the country. This national picture shows how these community music programs are fostering greater wellbeing, building social connections, improving community cohesion, increasing inclusion and accessibility, creating visibility and opportunities for diverse artists, and promoting cultural and environmental sustainability. These outcomes are creatively illustrated here by artist Elaine Li, and searchable by category below.
This collection of programs illustrates the powerful potential of music to create positive change on individual, community, and societal levels, and to inform a ‘creative change’ to current place-based policies and programs tackling growing social inequity.
What we share here is only a small snapshot of the vibrant, diverse, and impactful work that community musicians and their collaborators are doing across Australia. The information shared here on our website about these programs features words, ideas, images and website links from their facilitators. The Creative Change Project is also publishing an in-depth article and resources about the collective findings, as well as in-depth case studies with a particular focus on social equity.
