Big hART

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Motto It's harder to hurt someone if you know their story.
Headquarters Tasmania
Location Australia
Website www.bighart.org
Former name Big hART

Big hART is an Australian arts and social-justice company. It was founded by playwright and director Scott Rankin and John Bakes in Burnie (north-western Tasmania) in 1992.

The company initiates large scale, long-term community cultural development projects in disadvantaged communities in urban, regional and remote Australia.[1] Projects are task-focused and are to increase social, cultural and economic participation for community members following a three-step model approach.

Company objectives

At the heart of Big hART's approach rests the idea, that "it's harder to hurt someone if you know their story".[2]

The company works to:

  • make sustained changes with disadvantaged communities,
  • take the issues faced by these communities and make them visible in the public sphere,
  • influence social policy,
  • create high quality cultural activity which drives personal, community, and regional development, and
  • produce high quality art for local, national and international audiences.[3]

Model approach

Big hART tackles social disadvantage by supporting social cohesion through involving people in creative expressions of their life and identity within cultural and arts practice. To achieve this, the company developed a working model loosely based on three steps:

  1. A non-welfare arts-based community development project runs over a minimum of 150 weeks;
  2. An art- or theatre production creates a public platform for the community to share their stories with a national audience; and
  3. Ongoing social policy engagement addresses key issues and complex challenges that the community struggles with to promote a lasting, sustainable legacy with maximum impact.[4]

Big hART's work is not based on a welfare model – but encourages people to reflect on their buried cultural capital and on their personal trajectories to build self-supporting futures. The adopted approach follows a socially inclusive, asset-based community development model that focuses on strengths and skills already present but unacknowledged in the respective communities.[5] To achieve high levels of engagement and artistic quality, personal relationships are build with participants and their community at a grassroots level and by linking individuals with professional artists and cultural workers across a range of creative workshops. Without requiring any particular skills from the participants to begin with, these workshops promote an atmosphere of mutual respect. Designed to experiment with different art forms each individual is enabled to find an appropriate medium to express their story in.[6]

In presenting the artwork to the general community, individuals get to experience a positive form of attention and appreciation. The performance creates a communicative environment and challenges the audience to reflect on preconceived ideas pertaining to the persons involved who have been relegated to the margins of the community. To amplify the influence of the project and to enable sustained change in the community, Big hART partners with local institutions, organisations, individuals and government bodies.[7]

The presentation of the artwork to a wider audience in mainstream venues offers a new domain of experience to the project participants while at the same time raising awareness of issues facing the targeted communities. This awareness and public profile is then used by Big hART in the political domain to push for a policy change which will support the community to better tackle its problems and create follow-on effects for other communities facing similar issues.[8]

External evaluations of Big hART-projects indicate that the company succeeds in its outcomes: Many projects have consistently shown high levels of participation, improved levels of literacy, improved life skills and self-confidence in participants, as well as diversion from crime into education and work.[9]

Projects

Projects by Big hART include, among others:

  • Museum of the Long Weekend (Canberra 2013).[10]
  • Yijala Yala (Roebourne, 2010–).[11]
  • Namatjira (Ntaria, 2009–) .[12]
  • Smashed (Tasmania, 2010).[13]
  • Nyuntu Ngali (Ernabella/ Alice Springs, 2009)[14]
  • Ngapartji Ngapartji (Alice Springs and surrounds, NT & SA, 2004–2009)[15][16]
  • Gold (NSW, 2006–2009)[14]
  • Northcott Narratives (Surry Hills – Sydney, 2003–2007).[17]
  • Drive (Tasmania, 2008–2009).[18]
  • Love Zombies (Tasmania, 2009)[19]
  • This is Living (Tasmania, 2007–2008).[20]
  • Drive in Holiday & Radio Holiday (North West Tasmania, 2005–2009).[21]
  • Lucky[19]
  • Junk Theory (Cronulla Shire – Sydney, 2006–2009).[22]
  • Nuff Stuff (Groote Eylandt, Tennant Creek and Tiwi Islands, 2006)[23]
  • Knot@Home (NSW, Vic and Tasmania, 2001–2004).[24]
  • Hurt (NSW, Vic and Tasmania).[25]

Awards

Big hART's projects are arts-based but also traverse other portfolio areas including Innovation, Health, Social Inclusion, Housing, Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Attorney-General's, Employment, Education and Training, Resources and Energy, Environment, Regional Development, and Broadband and Communications. Hence, recognition of their work comes from diverse sources, such as Government-, community- and professional institutions:

References

  1. ↑ "Commissions for the Regional Production Fund". http://www.abc.net.au/radio/rpf/stories/s1314138.htm retrieved 20 November 2012
  2. ↑ Palmer, Dave: I'm Only Young But That's How I Will Feel Forever. The Evaluation of Big hART's Lucky Project, Perth: Murdoch University, 2008. p.7
  3. ↑ Grehan, Helena: "Aboriginal Performance: Politics, Empathy and the Question of Reciprocity", in: Australiasian Drama Studies (56) 2010,
  4. ↑ Somestimes, Beth: "Ngapartji Ngapartji", in: Ngoonjook. A Journal on Australian Indigenous Issues, No. 35, 2010. p.20/21
  5. ↑ Palmer, Dave: "Ngapartji Ngapartji: The Consequences of Kindness", evaluation report, Murdoch University, 2010.
  6. ↑ Somestimes, Beth: "Ngapartji Ngapartji", in: Ngoonjook. A Journal on Australian Indigenous Issues, No. 35, 2010. p.22
  7. ↑ Palmer, Dave: I'm Only Young But That's How I Will Feel Forever. The Evaluation of Big hART's Lucky Project, Perth: Murdoch University, 2008. p.6
  8. ↑ Somestimes, Beth: "Ngapartji Ngapartji", in: Ngoonjook. A Journal on Australian Indigenous Issues, No. 35, 2010. p.21
  9. ↑ Palmer, Dave: Ngapartji Ngapartji: The Consequences of Kindness, evaluation report, Perth: Murdoch University, 2010.; Palmer, Dr. David; James, Dr. Diana; Wright, Dr. Peter & Windmill: Suite of Arts and Wellbeing Projects; April 2009 – June 2010. Evaluation Reports, Perth: Murdoch University, 2010; Palmer, Dave: I'm Only Young But That's How I Will Feel Forever. The Evaluation of Big hART's Lucky Project, Perth: Murdoch University, 2008; Palmer, Dave & Wright, Peter: 'People Now Know Me for Something Positive': An Evaluation of Big hART's work at the John Northcott Estate, Perth: Murdoch University, 2007; Wright, Peter: 'It's Like Thinking With Both Sides Of Your Brain'. Big hART's LUCKY Project: An Imaginative Intervention, Perth: Murdoch University, 2008; Wright, Peter: Evaluating Big hART's SMASHED project: Building Bridges for Personal, Social and Institutional Change. Perth: Murdoch University, 2011.
  10. ↑ Announcement of Canberra100 Program, http://www.canberra100.com.au/programs/museum-of-the-long-weekend/ access 3 December 2012
  11. ↑ Interview with Stuart Campbell, long term media skills tutor on the Yijala Yala Project, http://pool.abc.net.au/media/ellie-stuart-campbell-yijala-yala-project, access 3 December 2012
  12. ↑ Amanda Smith (22 August 2010). "Namatjira". http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/artworks/namatjira/3021362. retrieved 15 Nov 2012
  13. ↑ Wright, Peter: Evaluating Big hART's SMASHED project: Building Bridges for Personal, Social and Institutional Change. Perth: Murdoch University, 2011.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Palmer, Dr. David; James, Dr. Diana; Wright, Dr. Peter & Windmill: Suite of Arts and Wellbeing Projects; April 2009 – June 2010. Evaluation Reports, Perth: Murdoch University, 2010.
  15. ↑ Gary Smith (16 January 2008). "Review: Ngapartji Ngapartji, Belvoir Street Theatre". http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/review-ngapartji-ngapartji/story-e6frev39-1111115327660. retrieved 10 Nov 2012
  16. ↑ Palmer, Dave: Ngapartji Ngapartji: The Consequences of Kindness, evaluation report, Perth: Murdoch University, 2010.
  17. ↑ Palmer, Dave & Wright, Peter: 'People now know me for something Positive': An Evaluation of Big hART's work at the John Northcott Estate, Perth: Murdoch University, 2007.
  18. ↑ National Library of Australia. http://trove.nla.gov.au/people/643231?q=big+hart&c=people. retrieved 12 November 2012
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Palmer, Dave: I'm Only Young But That's How I Will Feel Forever. The Evaluation of Big hART's Lucky Project, Perth: Murdoch University, 2008.
  20. ↑ Anica Boulanger-Mashberg, Tasmanian Times, 2 April 2009, http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php/article/this-is-living-artswork-reviews
  21. ↑ Wright, Peter: 'It's Like Thinking With Both Sides Of Your Brain'. Big hART's LUCKY Project: An Imaginative Intervention, Perth: Murdoch University, 2008.
  22. ↑ Yvette Barry, "Junk Theory, a floating multimedia artwork", ABC Hobart, 26 March 2009, http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2009/03/26/2527226.htm
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 http://www.wsis-award.org/winner/big-hart-57820100625 access Dec3, 2012
  24. ↑ Rod Ainsworth & Jack Ritchie, North West & Far West Regions, http://www.regionalartsnsw.com.au/docs/artreach/big_hart_jun_03.pdf access 3 December 2012
  25. ↑ Rhys Graham, Australian Centre for the Moving Image(ACMI), "Faces Etched, Scarred and Engraved Beyond Their Years", http://www.acmi.net.au/remembrance/r2/big_hart/artist_fs.html access 3 December 2012
  26. ↑ "2010". Sydney Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2012-12-17. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 http://mrfahrenheitpr.com.au/mrfahrenheit-blog/ access Dec3, 2012
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 City of Sydney, ANN HOBAN, 8 Nov 2020, CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE Sponsorship Agreement, http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/council/documents/meetings/2010/Committee/Culltural/081110/101108_CCSC_ITEM03.pdf access 3 December 2012
  29. ↑ Coggan, Saunders and Grenot, "Art and Safe Communities: the role of Big hART in the regeneration of an inner city housing estate", Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2008 : 19 (1), http://www.phs.ki.se/csp/pdf/Publications/hpja_2008_coggin.pdf
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Commonwealth of Australia and Regional Arts Australia, "Heartwork", 2004. http://www.regionalarts.com.au/raa1/files/HeartWork/HEARTWORIntro.pdf access 3 December 2012
  31. ↑ access Dec 3, 2012
  32. ↑ Media Release "2010 ATOM Award Finalists Announced!" 9 August 2010 http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1008/S00111/2010-atom-award-finalists-announced.htm access 3 Dec 2012
  33. ↑ Tasmania Together "Summary of Progress 1012, http://www.tasmaniatogether.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/172720/120853_TT_Progress_Report_2012_summary_web.pdf access 3 December 2012
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 http://www.documentaryaustralia.com.au/case_studies/details/33/hurt access 3 December 2012
  35. ↑ (10 Oct 2008). http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-10-10/tasmanian-wins-deadly-theatre-award/537210 retrieved 18 November 2012.
  36. ↑ access Dec 3, 2012
  37. ↑ [http://www.socialchangefilmfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/GSCFFIfilmfinalists.pdf. retrieved Nov 20, 2012.]
  38. ↑ "Nominees announced for 2010 Australian Directors Guild Awards" 30 August 2010 http://adg.org.au/uploads/media-library/201008/2010%20nominees.pdf access 3 Dec 2012
  39. ↑ Tasmania : Winners 2010 Community Achievement Awards http://www.awardsaustralia.com/CAA_tas_win10.php access 3 December 2012

Further reading

  • Big hART Inc.: Nothing Rhymes with Ngapartji, video-recording, Neutral Bay: bEnhance Screenrights, 2012.
  • Casey, Maryrose: "Ngapartji Ngapartji: Telling Aboriginal Australian Stories", in: Megson, C., and Forsyth, A. (ed.): Get Real: Documentary Theatre Past and Present, Hampshire: Palgrave MacMillian, 2009, p. 122–139.
  • Davies, Matt: "Stories with the Heart", in: Outback (66) 2009, p. 88–91
  • Grehan, Helena: "Aboriginal Performance: Politics, Empathy and the Question of Reciprocity", in: Australasian Drama Studies (56) 2010, p. 38–52.
  • Kelly, Alex et al.: Ngapartji Ngapartji Memory Basket, Woolahra, N.S.W.: Big hArt, 2010.
  • Kelly, Alex; Sometimes, Beth: "Ngapartji Ngapartji: Indigenous Language in the Arts", in: Hobson, John et al. (ed.): Re-Awakening Languages: Theory and Practice in the Revitalisation of Australia's Indigenous Languages, Sydney: Sydney University Press, 2010. p. 84–89.
  • Palmer, Dave: Ngapartji Ngapartji: The Consequences of Kindness, evaluation report, Perth: Murdoch University, 2010.
  • Palmer, Dr. David; James, Dr. Diana; Wright, Dr. Peter & Windmill: Suite of Arts and Wellbeing Projects; April 2009 – June 2010. Evaluation Reports, Perth: Murdoch University, 2010.
  • Palmer, Dave: I'm Only Young But That's How I Will Feel Forever. The Evaluation of Big hART's Lucky Project, Perth: Murdoch University, 2008.
  • Palmer, Dave & Wright, Peter: 'People Now Know Me for Something Positive': An Evaluation of Big hART's work at the John Northcott Estate, Perth: Murdoch University, 2007.
  • Raja, Chris: "Namatjira", in: Art Monthly Australia (230) 2010, S. 53–55.
  • Rankin, Scott: Namatjira: Written for the Namatjira Family (Aranda); and, Ngapartji Ngapartji: Written for Trevor Jamieson (Pitjantjatjara), Strawberry Hills: Currency Press, 2012.
  • Rankin, Scott: "DIY Virtuosity Versus Professional Mediocrity", in: Australasian Drama Studies, (52) Apr 2008, p. 97–112.
  • Raw, David: "Love Zombies: Integrating Learning through the Arts", in: Teacher: The National Education Magazine (Mar 2009), p. 42–44.
  • Wright, Peter: 'It's Like Thinking With Both Sides Of Your Brain'. Big hART's LUCKY

Project: An Imaginative Intervention, Perth: Murdoch University, 2008.

  • Wright, Peter: Evaluating Big hART's SMASHED project: Building Bridges for Personal, Social and Institutional Change. Perth: Murdoch University, 2011.

External links

  • Website (access: 13 November 2012; 3.15pm)
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