Meet Brooke Newall
We chat with Brooke Newall (Program Coordinator for Creative Pathways in the Central West) about her primary school aspirations and her current expectations of life after death. Brooke works (and plays) as an actor, theatre director, creative producer and theatre workshop facilitator for children and young people. Her life began in Tasmania as an actor of independent theatre and artistic director for PCYC Youth Theatre.
How long have you been part of the Human family?
4 years as an arts worker
2 years as program & festival manager
What did you want to be when you were in primary school?
A singer, like my idol of the time… Gloria Estefan (gold)
A ballerina, who didn’t believe in lessons
What inspires you?
Children who explore and share their imaginations in ways I only wish I still could.
Older people who live like they’re 21.
What is your vision for the future?
To live in a society that likes to talk with each other, has vegetables on our nature strip instead of grass, let’s children roam free without fear and doesn’t need channel 7 to get the ‘facts’.
What would you like to be reincarnated as?
Maybe a meerkat? They have pretty curious and fun little lives.
Why is creativity important?
Without it nothing new would happen.
What is your favourite creative activity?
Singing – followed closely by acting.
Are there any upcoming art events you are looking forward to?
The Soweto Gospel Choir at QPAC, Gob Squad at the World Theatre Festival… and my favourite Shockwave Festival in Blackall in May!
What do you like best about being a Human?
Every day I come to work to combine my love for creativity, young people and working in regional areas…. every day.
Since arriving in Brisbane in 2007 Brooke has facilitated for companies including Backbone Youth Arts, BRAINways Education and Human Ventures before the appointment of Program Coordinator. She has taught classes in film and TV performance for children and adults and established ZooKidz Acting & Modeling Agency.
Brooke has directed theatre with young people independently and for Backbone Youth Arts, PCYC Youth Theatre, BRAINways Education and Human. Her theatre performance credits include Holy Guacamole (09), Sushi Wooshi Woo (09), Hitchcock Blonde (07) and Up For Grabs (07), The Golden Age (07) plus Brooke appears in a number of ongoing TV commercials, short films and commercial photographic work.
In 2010 Brooke worked as a producer on Red2 for Metro Arts & Brisbane City Council and Changing Habitats, the YPAA National Symposium for Young People and the Arts Australia. Brooke has also coordinated the Valley Fiesta, theatre program 09, Shockwave Festival theatre program 09/10 and the QLD Youth Arts Market 09 and 2high Festival 07,08.
Brooke has a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts (theatre) from the University of Tasmania, was a 2009 YAMP recipient and a member of the Young People Creating Queensland initiative.
There are no visible scars on Brooke’s neck from the removal of her second head.
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Creative Pathways: young coordinators get down to business
The Shockwave Festival is delighted to announce the formation of its young coordinators’ crew for 2013 and the success of the community supporters’ business breakfast.
A group of ten dedicated young people from Blackall, Longreach, Barcaldine and Winton are meeting fortnightly, with the aid of technology, to plan this year’s Shockwave Festival. They will plan and deliver the festival with support from Human Ventures, youth workers, schools and other volunteers from their communities.
Each coordinator has a different part of the festival that they are responsible for and are given mentors to help them develop a written plan to deliver it well. So far, coordinators have brainstormed the 2013 theming and tagline, designed fundraising activities such as a car wash and trivia night, decided to host another Chalk Walk, agreed to be part of a Woolscour concert, discussed performers and workshops for the festival and workshops and also spoken about how to involve other towns.
Visitors who come to Blackall for the festival can register to camp at the showgrounds again this year, with young coordination crew member, Geordie Heard responsible for planning all of the logistics for the camp site such as activities, camping areas and supervision. Geordie is being mentored by Alison Mobbs, who, as a teacher, has run many school camps in the past and who is keen to pass on these
skills.
The community supporters’ business breakfast, held at the Coolibah Motel in Blackall last Friday, was a great show of support for the Shockwave Festival with bookings at capacity and some interesting guest speakers skyping in to the breakfast from the Birdsville Race Club, Tourism Queensland and Human Ventures.
Kerrylyn Parfitt, from Smith Bros Blackall, was very impressed by the morning.
“It was good to hear about and understand more about the Shockwave Festival and how it is put together”, she said. “I was impressed that you could skype in guest speakers and I was impressed with Lachlan May. We got to experience what Shockwave has given him and what it does for the young people. Young people need guidance from the older people and it makes a good mix when you put them together.”
Blackall Tambo Regional Council Mayor Barry Muir was the first to sign up at the breakfast as a community supporter for Shockwave. He recognised the call for support and now proudly holds a sign that reads “Young People are Our Future – we support the Shockwave Festival” and a satchel of Shockwave goodies.
Shockwave sponsorship coordinator, Alison Mobbs, announced the community supporter program at the breakfast and is keen to sign up individuals and businesses across Central Western Queensland.
More information on the Shockwave community supporter program is available at the Human Ventures website or by calling Alison Mobbs on 07 4657 4442.
Shockwave Festival dates are Saturday May 25th and Sunday May 26th 2013!!
A FREE Event for the whole community!
The Shockwave Festival is proudly supported and co-presented by the Blackall Tambo Regional Council & Human Ventures. Creative Pathways creative workshops and enterprise program is currently supported by: The Australia Council for the Arts, Tim Fairfax Foundation, Blackall-Tambo Regional Council, Tourism and Events Queensland, the Queensland Government, and Human Ventures.
For more information about Creative Pathways or the Shockwave Festival, contact Human Ventures on 07 3229 8055, email Brooke, check out our website or become a fan of ‘Creative Pathways’ and ‘Shockwave Blackall’ on Facebook.
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Shockwave update! Slam poetry, circus and call for support
The Shockwave Festival is set for the final weekend of May… and programming is off to a flying start!
We’re ecstatic to announce partnerships with the State Library of Queensland and CIRCA . Both organisations will be bringing world class artists to this years festival to share their skills in the areas of slam poetry and circus!
The new Shockwave Arts Leadership Ambassadors Program is currently in development. Our aim is to support selected students from across Central West Queensland to participate in a quality program of leadership development that includes event planning and delivery as well as public speaking. The program will include a virtual workshop series that culminates in a five day ‘Arts Leadership’ camp during the festival.
Shockwave Festival will also take a strong enterprise approach this year with the addition of young people’s original art, craft and creative wares for sale both at the festival and in selected tourist venues across the region. Participants will learn valuable business and creative production skills and contribute to regional cultural and economic development.
Lastly, due to high demand the Shockwave Art Gallery will be open for one week following the festival in 2013 to coincide with the Blackall Heartland Festival Art Show. The Shockwave Art Gallery will feature an exhibition of work by selected young and emerging regional artists. Works will also be for sale.
Shockwave could not happen without our dedicated supporters. Human are currently seeking sponsors, partners and members to support the future of the Shockwave Festival. Help empower our young people to see a future for themselves in our rural communities. Please email Alison for more information on alison@human.org.au
Shockwave Festival is on May 25 and 26 at the Memorial Hall and Skate Park, Blackall, Queensland.
IMAGE: David Stavanger aka Ghostboy, world class Slam Poet will be delivering workshops and performing thanks to the State Library of Queensland’s Poetry Slam program.
Creative Pathways: last workshops for 2012, skate parks, and BIG showcases!
Brisbane arts workers Sue Loveday and Thom Browning made up the creative team for this delivery. Sue facilitated block printing, stencilling and organic sculpture making workshops. Thom, who is new to the team, facilitated VJ and performance workshops.
In Winton, over 60 young people attended workshops at the Youth Centre and Winton State School and 130 people came to celebrate the first BIG Showcase at the Winton Shire Hall. The Winton BIG Showcase contained dance, drama and music by students from Winton State School and live VJ’ing, photography, sculpture and original greeting cards made by Creative Pathways participants.
With our delivery in Blackall happening on the busiest weekend of the year, we were stoked to attract over 50 young people to workshops at the Memorial Hall and Blackall State School and 50 people to the Blackall BIG Showcase at the Skate Park. This event was unlike any in the history of the Creative Pathways program. The skate bowl turned into the stage as young scooter riders, skateboarders, hip hop dancers, beat boxers and VJ’s combined their acts into one athletic art extravaganza.
Both BIG Showcases also had fundraising elements run by young people in the form of original greeting cards for sale and a BBQ to help pay for their involvement in Shockwave Festival 2013
We farewelled Bonny on this trip and welcomed Alison Mobbs to the team as the Shockwave 2013, Regional Marketing & Event Coordinator. Alison is a Blackall local with years of experience in event management, youth engagement and creative practice.
If 2012 is anything to go by we can’t wait to see what the West has to offer in 2013. Merry Christmas from all of us!!
Visions of ShockWave 2010
click image to enlarge
The Shockwave Youth Arts Festival is set to explode on 22 and 23 May this year, with a vast range of arts workshops and activities. Read more
Young People WOW Community in Blackall
On the 31st October this year, young people and adults from Tambo, Blackall and Longreach enjoyed the spectacle and fun of the Way Out West (WOW) event, coordinated by Human Ventures, and held at Blackall’s Memorial Hall. Read more
Creative ideas become reality in the Central West
Young people in Central West Queensland are increasingly being described as ‘creative’ and ‘enterprising’ thanks to the continuing work of Human Ventures (formerly SpeakOut) and the Creative Pathways in the Central West program.
Emerging from the program, in June this year, was the inaugural Shockwave Youth Arts Festival (Shockwave). Supported by the Human Ventures team, Shockwave was conceived and coordinated by young people from the Central West region and was extremely well received and attended by more than 200 people.
From the 24th to the 31st October, young people in the Central West will again have the opportunity to participate in creative arts workshops and showcase their talent.
Read more
