‘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.
32 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 64 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
NATIONAL
Chris is a freelance producer, writer, editor, and multidisciplinary artist who lives and works on Dharawal land in South-West Sydney. For the past twenty-five years, Chris has worked across literary, visual arts, theatre, musical, and digital spaces, negotiating with landscapes that best serve the stories we want to tell.
Her passions cover a wide range of social justice issues such as access, domestic violence, male suicide, and a wide range of Indigenous issues. As a person of both the African and Cherokee diaspora, studies pertaining to the representation of minorities in the Australian media landscape are of particular theoretical interest, along with the impact of the performative arts and their ability to redefine ‘Australian’ by the telling of real-world stories, truth-telling with all its creative possibilities.
As Big hART’s Media and Communications Manager, Chris combines her knowledge of people, performance, and publicity, to help create an expanded connection with communities where narratives, mentorships, and opportunities can be shared and grown.
Phil has worked extensively, across decades, in Theatre and Performance, Film and Broadcast, Media Production and Facilities Management. As a founder of Circus Monoxide when he was young and fit, to the establishment of the Digital Media Unit at the University of Sydney, which he ran for eleven years, Phil brings a breadth of experience to the role of Artisan Manager.
Dedicated to the idea of the “campsite rule”, Phil is invested in bringing new thinking and innovation to the concepts of human spaces, the world of work and sustainable practice; Phil intends to bring these to the development of the Artisan Site.
Deb lived in the Pilbara from 2010-2014 establishing Big hART’s residency in Roebourne and creating the Yijala Yala Project alongside the community. Successful initiatives such as Hipbone Sticking Out, Murru and NEOMAD were delivered during this period and continue to resonate throughout Big hART’s work in the Pilbara and WA to this day. She has a hard-won set of very valuable skills developed over 20 years in the arts and culture sector including event and festival management, remote art centre management, regional arts facilitation, cultural policy, grants management, and community cultural development. Deb rejoined Big hART in September 2023 to oversee the legacy phase of the New Roebourne project.
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.
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.
Financial & Commercial: Carla is the Executive General Manager - Finance 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 22 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.
