History
Streets Alive began in 1999 with the primary aim of offering young people a new way to voice their culture and be seen and heard in a positive and reflective community festival. It transformed Launceston into an active and responsive series of spaces by encouraging the integration and increased awareness that a creative arts culture offers. Highlights from the first Streets Alive included the Light Up, with Lighting Designer Efterpi Soropos illuminating public spaces, the Night Block, a 'block parade' by Stompin' Youth Dance Co., and a performance by the James Morrison Quartet.
The 2001 festival theme was Positive Image and the program of events was partnered with the inaugural 10 Days on the Island international arts festival. This Streets Alive cemented the core of the on-going program, with projects such as Shop@rt, the workshop program, Urban Beat and several forums really coming to the fore.
Two years later, we were on again. The 2003 Festival, with the theme of 'Empowerment', saw the expansion of the festival to include an extensive theatre program, as well as Car Park Cinema, Carnivale and the Treasure Hunt program.
The 2006 festival explored Sub-Cultures and their relationship to the mainstream and questioned ‘What makes up our community?’ A major emphasis of the festival was linking with community groups and organisations such as the Migrant Resource Centre and the indigenous community to generate awareness and celebrate the growing diversity in the north of the state. This festival was included in the Launceston City Councils It’s About Us 2006 celebrations. The festival was a huge success with 333 workshops, involving 4563 participants, employing 262 artists and had an audience of nearly 25,000.
Highlights of the festival include the Harajuku Street Parade and Party, transforming Launcestons CBD into neo Tokyo with 550 young people dressed in Harajuku and dancing.