Departure of Katherine Quigley as Backbone CEO and AD

It is with sadness and gratitude that we announce that Katherine Quigley is stepping down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Artistic Director (AD) of Backbone.

Since 2014, Kath has played a critical role in shaping Backbone’s presence and impact in the Brisbane youth-arts scene. Kath was the driving force behind our move to the East Brisbane Bowls Club and championed the organisation’s growth in terms of stakeholder diversity, professional development opportunities, and reaching new audiences.

In her time at Backbone, Kath produced many successful performances and events, helping to build presenting opportunities and artistic success for a vibrant community of young artists in Brisbane. She worked with a talented team of producers, curators and artists to create a new model for what youth and community arts can achieve.

During the more than seven years of her tenure, Kath was instrumental in sustaining Backbone as an organisation, recently playing the key role in developing Backbone's successful 4-year funding agreement with Arts Queensland.

Kath also nurtured Brisbane culture in many ways behind the scenes, whether that was bumping in events, cleaning up after shows, assisting artists with developing funding applications, or providing advice and encouragement across the sector.

Brisbane's grassroots arts and cultural scene is richer for Kath's involvement.

We wish Kath all the best in her new chapter post-Backbone as she moves on to new and exciting challenges.

As part of our recently announced strategic review, Backbone’s Board has been working through a new leadership model with a focus on young talent at the heart of what we do. We will be able to share details of this exciting new model soon.

If you have any questions or concerns during this transition process, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Backbone Board at board@backbone.org.au or call Ben Eltham on 0422 987 538.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 9 NOVEMBER 2021