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News and Events - Read the latest Crossing Divides Newsletter online.
Crossing Divides Project
What is Crossing Divides?
The Currumbin Crossing Divides Project is a Creative Industries program that allows young people aged 15-26 to realize their potential create career pathways and provide skills and abilities support for the art industry.
In 2006 Access Arts was invited by the Parents & Citizens management committee of the new Currumbin Community Special Education School (SE QLD), a state of the art $33 million facility, to work in partnership with them to develop the school as a facility for use by the wider Gold Coast community. Community consultation with young people, families and agencies followed, as well as a forum at the school, using Access Arts' Sound Circles™ program as a creative catalyst to promote active imaginative participation.
Through this process, the primary objective evolved to develop the school precinct as a community hub for post-school activities, where sustainable innovative Creative Industries based pre vocational training and life-long learning programs could be offered, meeting the needs of all young people, including those experiencing disabilities and disadvantage, and in cooperation with the families and agencies that provided services for them. It was agreed that the programs developed would prepare participants for entry into wider social, educational and economic opportunities.
The pilot project has been funded by the Westpac Foundation for two years to produce an innovative, reproducible and scalable Creative Industries HUB model that could be successfully transferred and implemented in a range of communities.
Crossing Divides is funded by the Westpac foundation and approved by Disability Services Queensland
Staff Profiles
Jessica Townsend
Jessica Townsend is a creative and passionate arts worker with 10 years experience in the arts and cultural sector both locally and internationally. Jessica is a graduate of QUT Creative Industries majoring in Performance Studies and also completed a Minor in Indigenous Studies through cross institutional studies at JCU Cairns. Jessica has worked as a respite carer, behaviour support worker and coordinator of community programs for adults and children with disabilities in the Brisbane region and in the UK. Jessica has been a private Speech and Drama teacher for ten years and an enthusiastic Director of Children's theatre. Jessica is the Assistant Artistic Director of Butterfly Theatre Company who specialise in Black-light puppetry and physical theatre. Jessica has performed with Butterfly Theatre Company at many festivals around the world most recent being Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts (UK) and the Woodford Folk Festival. Jessica loves a creative challenge and is excited about being a new member of the Access Arts Team.
Kandy McCouat
Kandy McCouat is a freelance artist, sculptor and art therapist who works in a range of creative roles within the Brisbane and Gold Coast communities. Kandy has qualifications in Arts and Social Work and has exhibited as a visual artist for the last 8 years across South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Kandy is currently working in a support role with the Crossing Divides Theatre Group and enjoys the dynamic and spontaneous nature of theatre as an expressive tool for young people participating in this new and exciting Access Arts initiative.
Sam-Simon Tracy
Sam-Simon is facilitator and advisor to the Hip Hop projects of Crossing Divides and Access Arts 'Keepin it Real' projects. Having been involved in the music/film industry for ten years Sam-Simon brings experience in Mc’ing, Dj’ing, live performance of multiple instruments, recording, filming, editing and music/video production. Having joined Access Arts to implement the 'Keepin it Real' project, Sam-Simon now continues the program at Currumbin helping to co-ordinate showcases and produce music/video to gain exposure for the participants.
Heather Matthew
Heather Matthew moved from Victoria in 2008 where she has been working in the disability arts field as an oral historian and drama facilitator for the past ten years. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree (Deakin University) majoring in writing and has written and directed numerous plays for community theatre.
Heather has produced several short film documentaries including a film about mapping indigenous heritage in Mansfield, Victoria and a community delegation to East Timor to establish a friendship town. She was the local film facilitator for Club Wild’s Wild Tribe project in Benalla, Victoria. In her working life Heather has also been a journalist, bookseller, storyteller, librarian, poet, community artist and film maker. She believes that everyone has a story to tell and can do so in a unique and creative way through the arts.
She is currently completing a Diploma of Visual Arts at North Coast Institute TAFE and is excited to be a part of the Crossing Divides project with Access Arts.
Workshop Updates
Community Sculpture Project for Swell Festival
Crossing Divides is extremely excited that our sculpture has been accepted to Exhibit at Currumbin SWELL sculpture festival.
SWELL festival is held at Pacific Parade, Currummbin between the 12th -21st of September.
The visual arts team has been working hard and the sculpture is starting to take its magnificent shape.
‘We Invite more people to become involved...It’s not too late.
So come along with the whole family and join in the fun’
(Mark Warne Facilitator)
Crossing Divides Band ‘The Black Mumba’
Every Wednesday for the last 10 weeks a talented group of young musicians have been jamming at Expressive Grounds……
They have fused Funk-Hip Hop and Dance to create some wicked singles including ‘Roses are Red’.
To hear their tracks keep an ear and eye out for Crossing Divides on Youtube and MySpace.
Please Note
- Half day sessions are available – Please contact the Project Coordinator, Jessica Townsend.
- For Individuals/Families experiencing financial hardship please contact the Project Coordinator to discuss your options.
- Healthy Morning and Afternoon Tea is supplied to all – please provide your own lunch.
- If you require support with personal care, please contact the Project Coordinator to discuss your support needs.
Access Arts Inc ® Queensland is funded by Arts Queensland, Disability Services Queensland, the Office of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and the Westpac Foundation.
