YOUNG PRODUCERS PROGRAM
PROGRAM DATES: May - November 2021
LOCATION: East Brisbane Bowls Club & KEPK Gallery
NUMBER OF EVENTS: 3 public outcomes, 11 number of masterclasses
NUMBER OF PAID ARTISTS: 22
NUMBER OF AUDIENCES: 405
Backbone's Young Producers Program is the training ground for a new generation of creative producers and cultural leaders. Informed by 3 decades of training knowledge, Backbone provided 3 young producers with paid, part-time employment for the the duration of their training program, providing these young culturally diverse creators the chance to weave into the fabric of the organisation, learn what a producer does, and present an event of their own design as a part of Backbone Festival 2021.
Backbone’s Young Producer Program successfully provided 3 paid positions for young artists of diverse cultural backgrounds, career & capacity development, networking, and the opportunity to develop & execute a socially engaged project that reflect the cultural expression of contemporary youth.
TYSON GODDARD - PRODUCER
A dancer, choreographer, producer and change maker; Tyson Goddard is the creator of dance crew Rhythmology.
Tyson first connected with Backbone as a participant of our Young Producers Program in 2021. He used this opportunity to create the first iteration Rhythmology, presented at Backbone Festival.
From there, Tyson catapulted his idea into a re-development and presentation of Rhythmology at Metro Arts in 2022, supported by Mad Dance and Backbone.
Tyson has continued his relationship with Backbone, joining the team to produce the first Revel Dance in 2022. Tyson worked closely with Backbone to develop a series of 11 workshops, coordinating the choreographers and participants, and using his skills to create a positive self-determined space where young artists of diverse cultural backgrounds could safely express themselves and learn from industry leaders.
Image of Vein Cage curated by Summer Hiskens-Ravest at KEPK Gallery, 2021.
SUMMER HISKENS-RAVEST
Summer Hiskens-Ravest is a South American/Australian Artist, Musician, Curator and Producer, based in Meanjin working on Jagera Land.
Summer works across a diverse range of tactile and electronic mediums such as Printmaking, Painting, Textiles, Photography, Videography, and Experimental Music Performance; under the pseudonym Sylva Vy. Their practice is conceptually driven by themes of dadaism, anarchistic culture, and underground DIY practice.
In 2020 Summer graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Art, Specialising in Printmaking, at the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University. Solo Exhibitions include, Luz Mala Bad Light, at ForA Gallery, Meanjin 2021. Nihilismus, at Impress Printmakers Studio And Gallery, Meanjin 2021. Auditory Dream Distortion, Backbone Youth Arts, 2018.
In 2021 Summer participated in the Backbone Youth Arts, Young Producers Program, producing the event, Vein Cage: A Praxis of Existence and Identity, as part of the Backbone Festival 2021.
Reflecting on her journey so far, Summer declared:
“As a recent Graduate of The Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, I found this program extremely helpful for the further development of my career. The Young Producers Program touches on topics and ways of working that are not generally explored within institutional learning environments.”
Since completing the Young Producer Program, Summer has acquired a tattooist licence and is currently working as a tattoo artist.
KATIE RASCH
Katie Rasch is a Brisbane based videographer, photographer, producer and artist. She is passionate about creating tactile, narrative driven work of a huge variety and loves working collaboratively across multiple mediums.
Currently Katie is completing a garden installation work at House Conspiracy, using natural materials including plants to explore themes of cultural belonging and sacred spaces.
She has also co-written and staged managed a theatre production called People of Colours that has finished a sold out first run at the Brisbane Powerhouse for the Melt Festival in May of 2021.
Katie has a large amount of video and photography work in her portfolio. This includes event videography and photography where she has worked for multiple clients including Westpac, QPAC, University of Queensland and Brisbane City Council.
Katie Rasch is a Meanjin based Producer and artist who has worked across multiple mediums and is passionate about creating tactile, narrative driven work. She is a lover of all things sci-fi and during her time in the Young Producer Program, she curated an exhibition exploring Pacific Futurism - Astro Ark.
Reflecting on her time in the Young Producer Program, Katie said:
”[This program] has really broadened my horizons when it comes to my career trajectory. I have a much greater knowledge of the Brisbane arts scene in general and I have more understanding of how I can make my own and other people's ideas come to life in ways that are both financially sustainable and contribute to our communities.”
Since completing the Young Producer Program, Katie has gained employment as the Producer — Exhibitions and Events at the Institute of Modern Art (IMA).