For five days in January, 40 young women, trans and gender non-conforming youth will gather at Auckland’s MAINZ Institute to rock n roll.
Miami Girls Rock Camp Photo: Vimeo
It’s New Zealand’s first Girls Rock Camp, and it aims to help address the underrepresentation of women in the local music industry.
The camp is designed to empower and support young women, trans and gender non-conforming youth by giving them practical skills, role models and a safe, supportive space.
It’s open to kids between 12 and 17 years-old, with no musical experience necessary.
Ever since the first Girls Rock Camp was held in Portland, Oregon in 2001, the camps have been popping up all over the world.
The most recent camp in Melbourne saw Courtney Barnett performing an intimate show for around 40 girls, who she’d mentored during the week.
The NZ camp will be led by around 20 female identified and LGBTI music mentors from ‘all walks of the music universe’. There’ll even be musicians from some of the kids’ favourite bands.
Girls Rock Camp Photo: Katie Dutton
During the five day camp, participants will form bands, learn instruments and write original songs, which they’ll get to perform at a concert at the end of the week.
They’ll also get to participate in workshops on songwriting, feminism and more.
The camp is run by a non-profit organisation made up of feminist musicians from bands like Street Chant, The Beths, Wax Chattels and Carb on Carb, as well as music lovers 'with years of music industry experience'.
The group has 'a passion for working towards a more equal world’. They’re supported by APRA, Recorded Music New Zealand, the NZ Music Commission and MAINZ, but are looking to raise additional funds via a Boosted campaign.
You can support the camp here: https://www.boosted.org.nz/projects/girls-rock-camp-aotearoa
Donations will go towards equipment hire and tutor fees, as well as providing ‘scholarship’ placements for families who can’t afford the enrolment fee.
The details:
- 15th – 19th January, 2018
- MAINZ, Victoria Street, Auckland CBD
- Enrolment cost: $250
- Applications for campers and mentors are open now through the website www.girlsrockcamp.co.nz
