As the Gold Coast’s arts and culture industry continues to boom, HOTA announces the newest member of their family; Creative joy generators – Everybody NOW!
Everybody NOW! is described as a collective of performance makers and producers who create participatory experiences that are both celebratory and playful.
Working with real people and telling real stories, Everybody NOW! are known for their beautifully crafted and engaging works that designed to move communities.
The company are dedicated to the creation of outstanding, community engaged arts projects created with, for and by communities, locally on the Gold Coast, as well as nationally and internationally.
“Everybody NOW! infuse a real sense of joy in everything they do,” said HOTA CEO Criena Gehrke. “I am truly delighted to welcome them on board as a new HOTA Home Company.”
Gehrke and her team are strong believers that art blooms when there is collaboration, mentorship and shared ideas, and therefore are proud to encourage HOTA as a home base for Gold Coast artists and creatives.
“It’s no secret that we love to work with artists that share our values and vision of the Gold Coast as a true home of creativity, where new work is created, communities are connected through art, and boundaries are always fearlessly pushed.”
Everybody NOW! Co-Artistic Directors Kate (McDonald) Baggerson, Ian Pidd, and Bec Reid, have been working together since 2015 with a cohort of talented collaborators from all over Australia including right here on the Gold Coast. Over this time, they have carved a dynamic, national reputation for an inclusive and joyful brand of participation and access to the arts.
While HOTA might be the new home for Everybody NOW!, both teams have collaborated in the past to deliver successful works including their involvement in HOTA’s initial Creative Development Program.
“Through the Creative Development Program, HOTA are the proud founding supporters of a new music-theatre work called R.I.N.K that celebrates powerful women’s stories from Roller Derby. HOTA also commissioned Everybody NOW! to create a spectacular outdoor dance event, Dance Beneath the Stars, part of HOTA’s Home series in December 2019.”
Everybody NOW! Co-Artistic Director and Executive Producer, Kate Baggerson says “we are thrilled to have the opportunity to embed the company into the heart of the arts here at HOTA. Our projects are designed to bring communities together and we look forward to being able to do that at HOTA as a home company.”
Everybody NOW! joins HOTA’s other home companies such as the Gold Coast Film Festival, The Farm, and Supercell: Festival of Contemporary Dance, all of whom are deliver their own custom creative spark to the Gold Coast city.
HOTA aims to provide opportunities and freedom for creatives to meet, collaborate and learn from some of the incredible calibre of national and international artists who visit the arts hub.
As HOTA welcomes Everybody NOW! as a Home Company, they look forward to presenting even more high-quality participatory art and community-engaged arts experiences throughout the year.
Currently, Everybody NOW! are collaborating with HOTA on a ‘future dreaming residency’ in March which entails a 3-day artist workshop to develop new ideas and projects for the future, as well as an original program, Tin Can Tapes that will premiere as part of HOTA’s Kids Take Over program in September 2021.
For more information on Everybody NOW! visit: https://www.everybodynow.com.au/
To learn more about HOTA’s Home Companies, head to their website: https://hota.com.au/what-is-hota-homegrown/
Media contact: amy@m10.com.au