Turn your creative practice into a workshop people want to book.

Workshop² is a 6-week professional development program for artists who want to upskill as a teaching artist and develop their own original workshop or workshop series. If you have a creative skill - performance, visual art, writing, design, movement, making - this program shows you how to transform it into a structured, engaging and marketable workshop.

With one-on-one mentorship from experienced educators, you’ll learn how to design clear workshop outlines, link your ideas to curriculum frameworks (if desired), and build the practical skills to confidently lead a room. You’ll test your workshop with peers, refine your delivery, and leave with a ready-to-run workshop that can be delivered as a one-off or a short series.

At the end of the program, Backbone will present your workshop at our venue, managing bookings, promotion and administration.

Workshop² helps you move from “I can do this” to “I can teach this” - creating new income pathways while expanding access to high-quality creative learning in the community.

APPLICATIONS FOR WORKSHOP SQUARED PROGRAM CLOSE ON THE 7th APRIL 2026.

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Download the Application Guide
Download the Accessible (PLAIN TEXT) Application Guide

THE DETAILS

As a Workshop² Teaching Artist, you will receive:

MENTORSHIP: One-on-one mentorship from experienced educators

MASTERCLASSES: Group masterclasses on teaching skills, building towards your development as a teaching artist

INDEPENDENCE: Skills to produce and develop your own workshops in future

PLATFORM; a platform to test out your workshop and get experience at the end of the program as well as the possible opportunity to be featured at Backbone Festival

A READY-TO-GO WORKSHOP SERIES: you will finish the program with a complete workshop or workshop series ready to be booked, marketable to your intended audience

FINAL WORKSHOP OUTCOME: Backbone will facilitate an opportunity for you to present your workshop at Seven Hills Hub (50/50 profit split with Backbone). You retain 100% of the workshop IP for future bookings

KEY DATES

Applications Open: 9th March 2026

Applications Due: 7th April 2026

Artists Selected: 21st April 2026

Week 1 Development: FRI 8th May

Week 2 Development: FRI 15th May

Week 3 Development: FRI 22nd May

Week 4 Development: FRI 29th May

Week 5 Development: FRI 5th June

Week 6 Development: FRI 12th June

Workshop Day: June/ July 2026

FAQ

  • Workshop² is designed to help you develop your idea from scratch. Whether you have a rough concept or a personal creative practice you want to teach, the program will guide you to design a fully structured, ready-to-run workshop.

  • No. While Backbone's focus is on artists 30 years and under, our Workshop Squared program is open to:

    • Individual teaching artists 30 years and under.

    • Individual teaching artists of any age making work specifically for schools and school students.

  • Yes. Presenting the workshop will be an excellent opportunity for you to test your resources and skills to ensure your workshop is fully developed, allowing you to finish the program with the confidence, skills and resources to book your workshop at any point in the future.

    The profit share for the Workshop presentation will be 50/50 with Backbone. After the workshop day, you retain 100% of the IP of your workshop or workshop series.

    After your workshop has been presented, you will have a final debrief with Backbone staff to ensure you feel ready to deliver and market your workshop/ workshop series.

  • Backbone is a multi-arts organisation, and our development programs are designed to support any medium that you are looking to teach.

  • This profit split will cover the resources and time of Backbone staff that you will receive as part of the development program. After this initial Workshop Day (which is part of your final development process), you will be responsible for the future bookings and marketing of your workshop, retaining 100% of the IP and profits.

    • Open, respectful and ongoing communication.

    • Work in collaboration with the Backbone team to ensure all parties are supported and project deadlines are maintained.

    • Provide feedback to Backbone at the end of the program to help assist and develop our future programs.

  • Applications will be assessed by Backbone staff using the following criteria:

    • The project is led by artist/s aged 30 or under or aimed at developing a workshop for schools and school-aged students;

    • Clear articulation of your idea for a workshop or workshop series;

    • Marketability of the proposal;

    • Potential impact of the development program on the career or practice of the artist/s.

  • To apply, you will need to clearly explain the vision for your workshop and workshop series. You will also need to include your CV/resume.

  • Using the Application Form HERE.

    You can submit this via our Application Form which is available on our website, HERE OR by submitting a short 5-10 minute video that responds to all the questions in the Application Form to:

    info@backbone.org.au

 

Backbone is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

Backbone Youth Arts is proudly supported by Brisbane City Council.