‘It’s harder to hurt someone if you know their story’. Our work sheds light on invisible stories, bringing hidden injustice into the mainstream. These stories make it harder to hurt someone - on an individual, community and policy level. Our work demands best practise, and we strive for generational change.
30 years ago, Big hART was set up as an innovative experiment to find new ways of dealing with disadvantage. Motivated by the closure of a paper mill in the industrial town of Burnie, Tasmania, Big hART began working with the community, creating high quality art to transmit their story. This began a journey that has taken the Big hART model to over 50 communities nationwide.
Big hART is project based. Our core staff deliver these projects in the field, working alongside a large pool of skilled, highly regarded professionals.
Scott co-founded Big hART with friend John Bakes in 1992. As CEO and Creative Director, Scott leads the overarching vision for all Big hART projects – from pilot through to legacy. A leader and teacher in the field of social and cultural innovation, Scott provides daily mentorship and knowledge transfer to all Big hART staff so that they can in turn lead our projects with confidence.
An award winning writer and director in his own right, Scott’s works have been included many times in major arts festivals. His reputation is built on a quarter of a century of work, creating, funding and directing large-scale projects in diverse communities with high needs, in isolated settings.
Big hART is Scott’s passionate contribution to the arts and society.
To contact Scott please email Lucy Harrison: lucy@bighart.org
Genevieve works across Big hART projects ensuring a high level of quality and consistency is maintained in our many artistic outputs. Working closely with producers and our community programs, she also creatively directs our company branding, project identities and web presence. With a background in set design, Gen has designed most of Big hART’s theatre productions since 2001, and continues to collaborate and create design works from the ground up – driven always by the power of good art to create empathy and action. Gen is also the National Director for Project O, Big hART’s primary prevention program.
Sam works nationally on Big hART projects, collaborating closely with producers to ensure a high standard of leadership across the company. Bringing a solid background in arts and production management across many different mediums, and a deep interest in art for change, Sam’s skills provide crucial support for Big hART’s layered approach. Sam’s background as a stage manager, production manager and producer encompasses theatre, comedy, dance, outdoor spectaculars and more. Sam is also the Producer for the SKATE Project – Big hART’s ground-breaking new work in development.
Andrew works nationally, overseeing the reporting responsibilities for all projects, maintaining government funder relationships and ensuring producers remain on track with contract delivery. Andrew is the Big hART Board Secretary and Public Officer, keeping board members informed and connected with company activity.
Andrew also oversees all Tasmanian activity, and since 2014 has produced Acoustic Life of Sheds. Prior to joining Big hART in 2010, Andrew had an extensive music career, and worked in the commercial entertainment industries. Andrew grew up in Burnie, Tasmania and is now Melbourne based. He has been involved with and inspired by Big hART since its establishment.
Angela lived and worked in the heart of the Pilbara for three years, producing several legacy projects as part of Big hART’s extensive residency in Roebourne, WA. She is now based in Tasmania as Big hART’s TAS State Manager, and manages the Tasmanian program and all stakeholder relationships. With a background in festivals, performing arts, communication for social change, and media she brings 10 years of experience delivering art projects with communities across regional NSW. Angela is driven by strong community cultural development principals and creativity. She is strongly committed to good practice, is passionate about people and driving change.
Lucy began working with Big hART in 2016 as a stage manager for Murru and Tjaabi productions in Roebourne WA. As the Partnerships Manager, Lucy works closely with partners, donors and corporate supporters across the country who support the work of Big hART. As Executive Assistant Lucy manages company administration, working closely with Big hART CEO Scott Rankin. Lucy also conducts workshops with young people across Australia focusing on leadership, public speaking, performance, events and stage management. With a background in drama and communications, Lucy has toured many productions nationally and overseas, but she always returns to work for Big hART because of its commitment to social change and equality.
Sophia has worked with Big hART since 2007 across many projects and as National Producer. Passionate about the capacity of art to spearhead positive social change, this has included work on numerous social impact campaigns, on issues as diverse as slavery at sea, Indigenous languages policy, cultural diversity and Indigenous incarceration. Sophia produced the highly successful Namatjira Project beginning in 2009, including its award winning theatre production, feature documentary, community development project and its legacy project – the Namatjira Legacy Trust. Sophia maintains a close relationship with the Namatjira family, ensuring a high integrity in the wider project’s trajectory. Sophia continues to work with Big hART as a producer on developing Big hART projects, including All of Us and projects in NSW.
John ensures all is ‘neat and tidy’ in this key area. From the day to day accounting and logistics, to the CFO and Board Accountability responsibilities, John leads this department with expertise.
Mark began working with Big hART in 2016 applying his musical direction skills to the SKATE project, and has since expanded his work for the company by working across projects, including leading NEO-Learning as Creative Producer and also delivering music based skills workshops and mentoring in communities. Mark has performed onstage in Big hART productions and continues to provide musical direction for Big hART outputs. As an experienced musician and educator Mark has conducted workshops across Australia, with a particular focus on a deep human connection to rhythm, original composition and found sounds.
Allery has been working with Big hART in Roebourne for 6 years, as a key elder on the project and a cultural consultant. Allery helps to keep the project safe, by advising on community needs, and providing a high level of mentorship to our young participants. Allery has been on stage for Big hART, performing in Hipbone Sticking Out alongside her grandsons, and singing in Murru. The daughter of Sandy Andrews and Lila King, she was born in Roebourne, the fourth of eleven children. She has a family of two daughters and a son – Joanne, Donna and Bobby Willis. Her work background includes community welfare, Yindjibarndi language education, and work for the ministry of the Aboriginal Church.
Bettina first began working with Big hART in 2016, after almost 10 years of running her own successful publicity firm specialising in the arts, festivals & books promoting award-winning authors such as Bruce Pascoe, Matthew Condon and Frank Brennan and music and film festivals including the National Folk Festival. Bettina’s always had a love for the arts, and was heavily involved in youth theatre as a teenager, then completed her BA Communications in Theatre/Media at Charles Sturt University and went on to work at the ABC, working in TV and radio, and also has a Masters in Writing. At Big hART, Bettina is the go-to person for all media requests, and manages the social media channels, Big hART Blog and EDMs, communicating Big hART to the world from her piece of paradise on the far south coast of NSW.
Patrick is a Traditional Owner from the Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi Language Groups and a gifted performer and has worked with Big hART leading intercultural workshops for many years. To Patrick, arts and culture is about connection and community. It’s a way of life and a sense of identity. Patrick is also a board member of the State Government Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee and City of Karratha Arts & Cultural Advisory Group.
Starting with Big hART in 2017, Rachel facilitated creative workshops with Project O in NW Tasmania, producing a short documentary for the Cape Grim Project, and facilitated a digital media podcast project with young people in the Pilbara, WA. Now as the Creative Programs Producer in Tasmania, Rachel brings her specialised skills in Applied Theatre, education and facilitation to designing creative programs and working with young people. Having worked with young people in the UK, Guatemala, Nepal and across Australia, Rachel is passionate about the role of theatre and arts in crossing cultural and social boundaries, and connecting people.
Michelle is a Yindjibarndi woman from Roebourne, WA and Cultural Advisor to Big hART, working with the organisation for many years to ensure the program is safe culturally. A passionate advocate for change and an innovator in her community, Michelle shares a wide range of skills and knowledge to support young people to maintain their cultures and heritage. Michelle has been a senior government adviser in Indigenous Affairs and the Department of Communities, and is a trained language specialist with over 20 years experience in community development and education.
Natalie has established an extensive career as an actor both nationally and internationally. She began her association with Big hART as an actor/mentor and performed with the company as a part of the Yijala Yala project ‘Hip Bone Sticking Out’. Witness to the company’s incredible work and long term positive impacts, she has since extended her role with Big hART as the Victorian Producer of Project O and Associate Artist Manager across all our projects, and is passionate about the arts as a platform to empower communities, create empathy and drive change.
Lincoln is a social worker with over 10 years experience in the community sector in roles ranging from case management to managing community development projects with social housing communities. With previous work in carpentry, Lincoln is passionate about working with individuals to build resilience by learning new skills and creating opportunities for intergenerational connection. Lincoln was the community producer for SKATE and as a former skater understood how to engage with the skate community of Greater Sydney, identifying participants and talent, building networks and partnerships and supported the project in its creative development and success at Barangaroo. He is now heading up the new NSW project in the Shoalhaven. Lincoln is passionate about using the power of quality artistic work to give voice to hidden stories and empower communities to re-author their future.
Holly has worked for Big hART across multiple projects in varying roles over the last ten years and is currently the Associate State Manager in Tasmania. Holly’s interest in the work is around wider community impact and sustainable social change. Holly has an arts background and a Masters in Community Development. She specialises in asset-based community development and has a personal interest in the arts as a vehicle for social change in the end of life sector.
Maggie Abraham is a Tasmanian-born contemporary percussionist who has played extensively around the state in different groups and as a solo artist, including at festivals such as The Falls Festival, MONA FOMA, and The Taste of Tasmania among many more. Seeking to constantly develop her own sound and voice as a musician she is inspired by her experience in the Tasmania landscape.
Maggie came on board with Big hART as a producer for Project O Frankston, and has performed at Big hART’s Acoustic Life of Sheds shows in Tasmania. As Creative Producer, Maggie works alongside artists to facilitate workshops for young women and gender diverse young people from schools in Frankston. Drawing on her skills as a musician, Maggie is passionate about mentoring the upcoming generation of young women to become change makers in their communities.
Pat has spent most of the last 10 years straddling the fields of community development, social inclusion and the arts. He has worked in complex social environments in Colombia, Chile, Ethiopia, the UK and most recently in Lebanon delivering a diverse range of projects from psychosocial and education programs for refugee populations to social integration programs for multicultural urban youth. As a visual artist and musician, Pat is particularly excited to be working with Big hART in Roebourne and seeing the intersections between community development and creative practice.
Aimee’s initial foray into professional life saw her working as both a lawyer and anthropologist with Aboriginal communities across South Australia. Following a life-long passion for movement, Aimee moved to London in 2013 to complete a Masters of Dance Anthropology and subsequently spent the next 5 years working for leading dance organisations in the UK and Lebanon. A strong believer in the transformative potential of the creative fields and the power of a narrative, Aimee is excited to be heading up Big hART’s work in Roebourne, WA. *Aimee is currently on maternity leave.
Fallon is a multi-faceted performer and creator: A movement practitioner, choreographer, composer and vocalist who’s work explores the relationship between physical movement and vocal performance for expression of story, connection and evolving truth. Fallon leverages her talent as a soulful vocalist, her experience as a Mau rakau martial artist and traditional Maori performing artist (Kapa Haka) in her unique creative practice.
Her creative process is rooted in her ancestry as a Maori woman and is underpinned by holistic principles; Physical expression that flows in unison with psychological, spiritual and social wellbeing. She applies these principles to her extensive work with community and young people, empowering them to connect with their strength and deepening their understanding of place and belonging.
Fallon is the Community and Programs Producer for Project O Frankston and brings her passion for platforming voice, authentic expression, courage and change through her performing arts and knowledge passed on from her ancestors.
Jay Bushby is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in nipaluna/Hobart. The Pinoy/First Nations artist studied at the Aboriginal Centre of Performing Arts in Brisbane before making the move down to Hobart on a scholarship to study music at the University of Tasmania. Jay quickly immersed himself into the Tasmanian music scene, performing solo, in his own band and in various roles and ensembles across the state – including festivals such as The Falls Festival, Party in the Paddock, Panama, Dark Mofo, Taste of Tasmania and many more. Bringing his passion for creating music that connects people to each other and to country – Jay’s first major work with Big hART saw him in the role of mentor and musical director for the production, ‘When Water Falls’. Jay has since worked with the company in various performative and mentorship roles, ever excited to see the spark of possibility in a young person’s eye.
April is a Wiradjuri-Scottish educator, digital artist and audience specialist with ancestry to the Galari people of regional NSW. She is passionate about innovative approaches to learning such as multi-modal resources and live virtual delivery. Since early 2020, April contributed to Big hART’s NEO-Learning platform as the Creative Learning Producer. April holds a Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design, and is currently obtaining a Masters of Education with a double specialisation: Design and Technology and Visual Arts. Her previous clients include: Australian Parliament House, National Gallery of Australia, National Museum of Australia, National Portrait Gallery, Awesome Arts, Museum of Australian Democracy and The Art Gallery of SA.
Paul joined Big hART at the start of 2021, coming from more of a corporate background in the automotive industry, starting as a mechanic. He brings experience in business and management which offers a fresh energy and a practical perspective to the work on the ground. Paul joins the team in Tasmania where he is key Operations Manager, solving problems and providing logistic and technical support across the Tasmanian suite of projects.
Keia Mcgrady is a movement specialist, visual artist, choreographer and vocalist. As a proud Githabul, Migunberri-Yugumbeh woman, she draws on her connection to culture and community to create a free flowing movement practice. Upon completing studies at the Aboriginal Centre of Performing Arts, Sydney Dance Company’s Pre Professional Year and studies abroad with Israel’s Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, Keia’s freelance work landed her in nipaluna/Hobart where she has been working in Big hART both as a performer and mentor. With a passion for using art to provide a safe space for healing and deep listening, Keia is driven to support and nurture the younger generation.
Nicky is a Melbourne based filmmaker and photographer. Since completing her Diploma in Photo-Imaging and later managing her own film and photography business – Spyglass Images, her work with charitable organisation Desert Pea Media as a content creator and filmmaker in remote Indigenous communities around Australia, gave her valuable insights into contemporary storytelling techniques and audio-visual media to foster important social and cultural dialogue. Within 3 years she co-created over 15 music videos and 22 short films with the Desert Pea Media team that have helped re-engage marginalised young people with community, culture and country and encouraged the development of life skills, access to education, employment and leadership programs.
Nicky’s works with Big hART as a filmmaker and mentor developing and creating innovative and cathartic content from documenting a variety of productions, she also collaborates with artists and producers to deliver filmmaking workshops as a means to build personal agency, skills and employment pathways to young women living in rural and remote communities – to assist them to build self-confidence and thrive.
Andy is an accomplished Producer with a background in Events and Production Management. A decade in the West Australian Arts Industry has seen Andy work for notable institutions such as Fremantle Arts Centre and Perth Festival, programming and delivering iconic events, cherished by the community. Andy joined the Big hART team in Roebourne in 2020 and hopes to use his broad experience to nurture and showcase some of the great creative talent Roebourne has to offer.
Bella Waru (Ngati Tukorehe // Te Ati Awa) is a movement and sound artist, cultural producer, performer, weaver, community arts facilitator and body worker living, listening and responding across sacred, unceded Indigenous lands, currently those of the Kulin Nation in so-called-australia.
A diasporic Indigenous Sovereign and queer femme, Waru creates stories and spaces to honour, uplift, protect and nourish the vitality of their communities, ancestral knowledges, cultures and lands.
Waru’s life-work spans the realms of art, storytelling, wellbeing and social justice, with a strong belief in the transformative powers of creation, connection, community and healing. They are passionate about offering young people, in particular, access to knowledge, opportunities, tools and resources in support of their wellness and self-realisation.
Waru began their association with Big hART as an artist/mentor in 2020 for Frankston’s Connecting Lines and has since then taken on this role more permanently as part of the Frankston team for Project O.
Lucky Oceans began working in Roebourne on a regular basis in 2013. He is Musical Director for Songs for Peace and Songs for Freedom and as a composer/performer, a mainstay of Acoustic Life of Sheds. Raised in a family that practices cutting-edge art and social justice, coming into the Big hART family is a poetic return to his early aspirations.
Lucky is a Grammy Award winning pedal steel guitarist who has played with Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, Paul Kelly, Archie Roach, Gurrumul and Jerry Lee Lewis. As presenter of the Daily Planet on ABC Radio National, he became a central figure of Australian cultural life. Lucky is grateful to Big hART and the community of Roebourne for sharing their deep knowledge with him and for giving him the opportunity to share his practice in the transformative power of music.
Monica is a multi-disciplinary designer working in print design, web design, illustration and animation. As well as creating visual identities and designs for Big hART’s many projects, she also runs her own practice, Green Peas for Breakfast, where she creates for musicians, theatre, fashion, creative agencies and wineries. Starting out as an arts and travel journalist, Monica had a career change in her early 30s, shifting to explore a keen interest in design and illustration. She is completely self-taught in this area and is passionate about sharing her knowledge – gained from over a decade in practice – with others. She particularly enjoys inspiring young people to tap into their creativity through workshops with Big hART’s Project O, and gets immense satisfaction out of the personal agency it gives participants.
Aaron is an accomplished musician who led our music programs on the New Roebourne project for three years, and is now involved with Big hART projects in Tasmania. In Roebourne, Aaron worked inter-generationally across diverse groups, creating music with: local young women in a One String Guitar band, inmates in Roebourne regional prison, and the local choir made up of many key community elders. Aaron also composes music for Big hART films and theatre productions. He has dedicated his career to creating original music and sound that interprets culture and the textures of nature. Aaron tours his own work internationally, and brings this experience back to community as a passionate music mentor with a focus on youth.
Alison is an arts and events producer with a palpable enthusiasm for people. Her passions lie in working with artists from project concept to realisation, as well as social justice and mental health. Alison is a big believer in the power of the arts and human connection for positive individual, group and community change. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Psychology (Clinical) while working part-time with Big hART on Tasmanian projects. Alison has a wealth of experience in working with artists, young people and regional and remote communities in site-specific practice and in the performing and experimental arts.
Justice & Gender: Barbara has held 20+ years of senior positions in juvenile justice, disability, child protection, and policy. She is currently President of the National Council of Women of Australia. Her key experience includes strategic planning and consulting.
Entertainment: Andrew has 20+ years in the private sector, and the music and entertainment industry. He is experienced in logistics, financial planning, and HR management.
Community Development & Arts: Scott is Big hART's Co-founder, CEO, and Creative Director, with additional roles as Writer, Director, Executive Producer, essayist and public speaker. He is a leader in CCD project design, consulting to Government and the corporate sector.
Community Development & Arts: A Yindjibarndi leader and artist, Allery has been working with Big hART in Roebourne for 6 years, as a key elder on the project and a cultural consultant. Allery's background includes community welfare, Yindjibarndi language education, work for the Aboriginal Church and she is also a Director on a number of boards.
Disability: Neal is the Manager of North West Residential Support Services Inc., with 30+ yrs experience in disability and the not-for-profit sector. He is highly skilled in the areas of financial management and policy development.
Community Development & Arts: Patrick is a Traditional Owner from the Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi Language Groups and a gifted performer and has worked with Big hART leading intercultural workshops for many years. Patrick is also a board member of the State Government Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee and City of Karratha Arts & Cultural Advisory Group.
Legal: Carla is the Chief Operating Officer for Results Legal. She has 20+ years’ experience driving the vision, business strategy and growth across a range of sectors including finance, construction and technology.
Youth, Advocacy & Arts: Project O Alumni Kaytlyn is a 20 year old Palawa woman from North West Tasmania who understands the intergenerational disadvantages young people face in isolated communities. In 2022 Kaytlyn was awarded the Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year Award and advocates for social change for rural youth, Indigenous injustice and on climate issues.
