The 10 shire participants have been drawn from the four participating schools of Lightning Ridge Central School, Walgett High School, Collarenebri Central School and Goodooga Central School.

The project, Living in Harmony, aims to provide the group of 20 students aged 14 to 19 with a greater understanding and appreciation of different cultures, racial and religious backgrounds.

As part of the program all students will travel to Sydney the following week from September 28 for the second week of the workshop, staying at the Baden Powell Centre in West Pennant Hills.

The two-week workshop in Walgett and Sydney will give the participants the opportunity to spend time together in each other's communities, by working together towards developing a small performance piece.

Project leader Julian Louis - a director and tutor with the Australian Theatre for Young People, percussionist Joshua Green and dancer Mariaa Randall will work with the students to assist in the shaping of a short performance piece to be presented in Sydney on October 4.

Citizenship and multicultural affairs minister Gary Hardgrave said Living in Harmony grants emphasised the importance of harnessing the enthusiasm among young people for involvement in racial harmony issues in their communities.

"The Australian Theatre for Young People's city/country exchange project will give youth from Walgett and Sydney the opportunities to address contemporary issues which affect young people," he said.