A Mountain of Voices

Credit: The Mountain of Voices launch in the UTAS Riverside building, 2024. Image: Hannah Todd

With The Voices for Tasmanian Youth

Now
Commission

Commissioned by the Commissioner for Children and Young People Tasmania, 2024
An interactive public space activation that amplifies the voices of young people
On the Record, created by K Verell during our 2025 high school tour, is a permanent artwork featuring the voices of young Tasmanians through a vinyl record, written power statements and a zine.

Impact

Developed through a trauma-informed participatory process with a Consultative Council called ‘The Voices for Tasmanian Youth’, supporting them to direct the goals and outcomes of the project
Sits alongside a youth-generated report, digital media campaign and advocacy process commenting on the Tasmanian Government’s Child Sexual Abuse Reform Strategy and Action Plan
A powerful vehicle for promoting youth agency and for building meaningful connection with the decision makers who shape communities.

A Mountain of Voices, presentation of On the Record at Government House, 2025. Image: Peter Mathew

We put our creative skills and network at the disposal of a group of young Tasmanians: A Mountain of Voices is the result.

‘A Mountain of Voices was dreamed up by members of the Voices for Tasmanian Youth through a series of creative workshops and was later brought to life by the team at Terrapin. The Mountain invites children and young people to share their thoughts, views and ideas with the adults around them.

Only children and young people can climb the mountain and speak into the megaphone… and share a Power Statement to remind adults of why their voices matter.

Young people are also invited to write their Power Statement or draw a picture on a post it note, which they can nail to the side of the mountain. As the statements build up, each young person who climbs the mountain is lifted up by the voices of their peers… and the Mountain serves as a reminder of the importance of young peoples’ voices, especially when it comes to instances of abuse.’

– Comments by a member of the Voices for Tasmanian Youth, July 2024.

Terrapin artists and facilitators worked closely with the Voices for Tasmanian Youth council, supporting them to develop their ideas for an installation. This creative process was also trauma-sensitive, drawing on the experience of our team to ensure a safe environment for kids of all ages.

A Mountain of Voices is a creative, unique way of amplifying the voices of young people across Tasmania allowing our ideas to be heard through a megaphone or written on a post it note and nailed to the side of the mountain.

The layered voices form a collective narrative, reminding us that every perspective contributes to the broader human story. It isn't just artwork – It's a collection of thoughts, feelings and stories from young people across Tasmania. It's a way for us to be heard to share what's important to us from us.

I hope that the adults making decisions for us will not only see the artwork but understand the meaning and thought behind it.

- - The Voices for Tasmanian Youth
  Creators
- - The Commissioner for Children and Young People Tasmania
  Client
- - Dannielle Jackson
  - Sam Routledge
  Project Designers
- - Jem Nicholas
  - Brett Rogers
  - Sarah Hamilton
  - Noah Casey
  - Nelle Degrassi
  Facilitators
- - Ingrid Rahlén
  - Olivia Vermey
  Production Managers
- - K Verell
  On the Record artist
- - New Norfolk High School
  - Cosgrove High School
  - Port Dalrymple School
  - Ulverstone Secondary College
  Tasmanian High Schools
- - Soda Projects
  Construction

2025
- Listening Party for On the Record Government House, Hobart 26 November 2025
- Tasmanian High Schools tour 18 March – 27 May
2024
- Pilot program

Interested in collaborating with us?

Get in touch

A Mountain of Voices, presentation of On the Record at Government House, 2025. Image: Peter Mathew
The Mountain of Voices launch in the UTAS Riverside building, 2024. Image: Hannah Todd
A Mountain of Voices, presentation of On the Record at Government House, 2025. Image: Peter Mathew
The Mountain of Voices launch in the UTAS Riverside building, 2024. Image: Hannah Todd
A Mountain of Voices, presentation of On the Record at Government House, 2025. Image: Peter Mathew
A Mountain of Voices, presentation of On the Record at Government House, 2025. Image: Peter Mathew