TAKE THE PRESSURE DOWN is a free event for young people, designed to demystify careers in the arts and calm nerves about what's next.
Designed like a speed dating event, we combine young people with professional artists to hear their stories, learn about their careers pathways, and to ask questions about the HOW.
Designed like a speed dating event, we combine young people with professional artists to hear their stories, learn about their careers pathways, and to ask questions about the HOW.
This event has taken place across 2023 -2025 with special guest Costa Georgiadis chatting with FLING's Executive Director Gabrielle Rose. Costa is a highly engaging speaker who has rallied the energy of our young people and their families, and eased the stresses of knowing what is next.
He has spoken about university, the highs and lows of his career development, and sharing his perspectives on purpose, knowing your interest, resilience, success and failure.
In 2026 the format was changed to consist of two separate events. The first being the ever engaging chat with Costa, and the second being Close up Conversations with a range of incredible artists.
He has spoken about university, the highs and lows of his career development, and sharing his perspectives on purpose, knowing your interest, resilience, success and failure.
In 2026 the format was changed to consist of two separate events. The first being the ever engaging chat with Costa, and the second being Close up Conversations with a range of incredible artists.
Take the pressure down 2026
Join us at FLING Studio for an informal panel conversation with 3 nationally recognised dance artists (2 of them FLING Alumni!) followed by time to deep dive into your burning questions in small group close up conversations.
TAKE THE PRESSURE DOWN is designed to demystify next steps to careers in the arts - shining light on diverse experiences, the round about routes toward a goal, and getting you thinking about your future pathways in creative ways.
This is a FREE event for young people, their supportive families and the young at heart across our community interested to hear from these fantastic artists and support this project.
Including a guided conversation, space to connect and ask questions, and FREE pizza!!
This year's stellar line up of guest artists:
Leif Helland - dance artist and musician (FLING Alumni)
Siobhan McKenna - dance artist (FLING Alumni)
Rachel Coulson - dance artist
TAKE THE PRESSURE DOWN is designed to demystify next steps to careers in the arts - shining light on diverse experiences, the round about routes toward a goal, and getting you thinking about your future pathways in creative ways.
This is a FREE event for young people, their supportive families and the young at heart across our community interested to hear from these fantastic artists and support this project.
Including a guided conversation, space to connect and ask questions, and FREE pizza!!
This year's stellar line up of guest artists:
Leif Helland - dance artist and musician (FLING Alumni)
Siobhan McKenna - dance artist (FLING Alumni)
Rachel Coulson - dance artist
Take the pressure down - past events
In May 2025 FLING hosted our third iteration of Take the Pressure Down with guest speaker Costa Georgiadis. A this event Costa spoke to a group of over 45 local young people and their families about resilience, building grit, patience and how to forge your own path.
Guest Artists 2025 include:
Kip Gamblin - Actor / Dancer
Kate Liston-Mills - Writer / Poet / Educator / Librarian
Robyn Martin - Singer-songwriter / Instrumentalist / Producer / Educator
Chris Sheedy - Film Maker / Photographer
Take the Pressure Down 2025 was made possible through the support of South East Arts, Create NSW and the NSW Department of Education.
Kip Gamblin - Actor / Dancer
Kate Liston-Mills - Writer / Poet / Educator / Librarian
Robyn Martin - Singer-songwriter / Instrumentalist / Producer / Educator
Chris Sheedy - Film Maker / Photographer
Take the Pressure Down 2025 was made possible through the support of South East Arts, Create NSW and the NSW Department of Education.
All Images Beth Lane
A MESSAGE FROM A COMMUNITY MEMBER
'I just wanted to let you know how much we appreciated this event last year and how it helped my daughter make some really big and important decisions about the future.
We found out about this amazing degree at your event last year and are so thankful - it came at a time when any mention of “next year” resulted in tears and anxiety. Now she has flown the nest and is loving their new life in Melbourne!
Thanks so much for everything FLING !'
'I just wanted to let you know how much we appreciated this event last year and how it helped my daughter make some really big and important decisions about the future.
We found out about this amazing degree at your event last year and are so thankful - it came at a time when any mention of “next year” resulted in tears and anxiety. Now she has flown the nest and is loving their new life in Melbourne!
Thanks so much for everything FLING !'
In 2024, we hosted our second Take the Pressure Down event to a delighted crowd at FLING Studio.
2024 Artists Include: Multidisciplinary Artist Scott Baker, Dance Artist Patrick Meessmann, Dance Artist Emily Bowman, Hair / Makeup / Cabaret / Wig Designer Klare Wilkinson, Photographer and Writer Madison Phillips.
2024 Artists Include: Multidisciplinary Artist Scott Baker, Dance Artist Patrick Meessmann, Dance Artist Emily Bowman, Hair / Makeup / Cabaret / Wig Designer Klare Wilkinson, Photographer and Writer Madison Phillips.
A LOVELY MESSAGE TO RECEIVE POST EVENT
Gabby,
What an evening!
I just wanted to say thank you so so much for the opportunity to contribute to your amazing space and work and community.
I so so appreciate the chance to be part of such events that help give our next generation any type of insight big small or in between.
You are doing amazing things and to be a fly on the wall and see just the scope and depth and quality of what you are doing is a real joy.
Big congratulations and thank you for the chance to be involved I loved every second of it.
You are surrounding yourself and our youth with incredible stories and fantastic individuals who I really appreciated meeting.
Costa
All Images Beth Lane
In 2023 we hosted our first Take the Pressure Down event, at our old home Bega Indoor Stadium.
2023 Artists Include: Composer David Hewitt, Filmmaker Andrew Robinson, Dance Artist Beth Lane, Designer Jess Martin, Visual Artist Jasmin Brown, Theatre Maker and Artistic Director of Navigate Arts Dr Louise Morris, Visual Artist and Community Artist Özlem Güler.
2023 Artists Include: Composer David Hewitt, Filmmaker Andrew Robinson, Dance Artist Beth Lane, Designer Jess Martin, Visual Artist Jasmin Brown, Theatre Maker and Artistic Director of Navigate Arts Dr Louise Morris, Visual Artist and Community Artist Özlem Güler.
All Images Rob McCredie
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