Are you a Qld artist or arts worker with a clear vision for the growth of your career, project or arts business?
Are you ready to move forward in your creative career? Or to achieve business growth or the realisation of an investment- ready significant project?
Creative Business Champions are here to provide guidance and help you develop the skills and networks to boost your career and reach new goals.
Creative Business Champions support all levels of arts professionals from emerging artists in remote areas to experienced managers in arts organisations and small business owners, providing knowledge, guidance and access to networks. The opportunity is open to anyone in Brisbane, South East Queensland, Regional and Remote Queensland – wherever you are in Queensland, this project is for you.
With expertise across a wider range of arts industry disciplines, Creative Business Champions will work with you to support successful:
- Project and program development
- Business growth
- Grants and fund sourcing
- Arts marketing
Registrations are now closed for the Creative Business Champion program
Creative Business Champions provide expertise and guidance through free, personalised one-on-one online consultations.
The Creative Business Champions program offers an initial online consultation to find out more about you, and will provide guidance, steps and actions to help address your needs.
Selected clients may be eligible for longer-term mentoring with a CBC for up to six months with a limited number of mentoring places available.
This is an exceptional opportunity to connect with leaders in the arts and cultural sector.
Creative Business Champions can’t do the work for you, but will become your champion and guide, providing expertise, knowledge, guidance and access to networks.
Registrations are now closed for the 2022 program. The existing program finishes on 31 December 2022.
Creative Business Champions, supported by the Queensland Government through the Regional Arts Services Network, is a free online professional guidance service to support employment pathways and career sustainability for Queensland’s arts workers.
Are you an artist that is looking to progress your arts business or project?
Our Creative Business Champions program is hitting the road and Coming to Country.
Our Creative Business Champions
Stevi Knagge
Proud Mununjali female working in mainstream media for Channel Seven, Grant Broadcasters and Southern Cross Austereo networks across 19 years. Now leading her own company dedicated to highlighting the importance of First Nations art, stories and culture, combined with extensive skill set in Management, Marketing and Events. Ochre Strokes.
Erica-Rose Jeffrey
Erica Rose Jeffrey currently works as a Director of Peace and Conflict Studies Institute Australia (PaCSIA). She is also the Director of Dance for Parkinson's Australia.
Ruth Atkinson
Independent Producer based in Toowoomba, Ruth contributes her extensive experience in Arts Management as an independent Creative Producer for RAVA Productions and Director of the Curious Arts Festival.
Charlie Street
Director of Black Square Arts and Regional Manager of Cape York Employment. Businessman, philanthropist and self-identified social entrepreneur. Black Square Arts leverages a for-profit enterprise to fulfil a social and cultural mission.
Stu Watters
25 years professional experience in private, government and the non-profit sectors with music and creative industries; extensive experience in lobbying and advocacy, high level events management and curatorial experience, conference development and management, and curriculum development experience.
Deb Suckling
Songwriter and musician, Deb was the Program Manager for QMusic for many years overseeing Queensland Music Awards, BIGSOUND and coordinating professional development workshops. Deb has also been a project manager for BEMAC and BACKBONE Youth Arts and works currently with the Archie Roach Foundation in their First Nations programs.
Kellie O’Dempsey
Artist and educator Kellie creates site-generated installations and performances that integrate projection, video, collage, architectural space, gestural line and performance. O’Dempsey’s diverse practice explores, deconstructs and heightens the concept of public space as shared experience.
Julie Beveridge
Arts Manager with 20 years experience in literature, festivals, community development, performing arts and touring in the Queensland context. Currently Julie works for The Humour Foundation, an arts based health charity that provides medical clowning to paediatric hospitals and aged care facilities nationally.
Toni Janke
Wuthathi and Meriam singer, songwriter, coach and consultant. Toni is an award-winning singer/songwriter who has released four independent original albums, performed at various festivals and events across Australia. She was a recipient of a national Deadly Award which she received in 2004 for Best Female Artist of the Year.
Louise Mayhew
Australian Feminist Art Historian and the Founding Editor of Lemonade, a new weekly reviews platform for exhibitions in the Sunshine state. For over a decade, Louise has been helping emerging artists and small arts organisations to navigate the artworld, first as an academic and more recently as a consultant.
Elliott Bledsoe
Arts marketing consultant supporting artists, arts organisations and groups to introduce marketing strategy and optimise their marketing communications efforts.
Felicity Chapman
Proud Aboriginal woman living on Ngaro country using weaving, eco-dying and photography to connect people and communities. A person living with a disability, Felicity also has a background in major project management, financial administration and more.
Lia Pa’apa’a
Lia has cultural connections to Samoa and the Luiseño nation of Southern California. She is an artist, Creative Producer and Community Arts Cultural Development practitioner across urban, regional and remote settings.
Jenuarrie Warrie
Belonging to Koinjmal Country (Central Qld) and raised in Rockhampton, Jenuarrie is a celebrated visual artist and artsworker with experience leading arts organisations, policy development, consulting and more.
Stevi Knagge
Proud Mununjali female working in mainstream media for Channel Seven, Grant Broadcasters and Southern Cross Austereo networks across 19 years. Now leading her own company dedicated to highlighting the importance of First Nations art, stories and culture, combined with extensive skill set in Management, Marketing and Events. Ochre Strokes.
Erica-Rose Jeffrey
Erica Rose Jeffrey currently works as a Director of Peace and Conflict Studies Institute Australia (PaCSIA). She is also the Director of Dance for Parkinson's Australia.
Ruth Atkinson
Independent Producer based in Toowoomba, Ruth contributes her extensive experience in Arts Management as an independent Creative Producer for RAVA Productions and Director of the Curious Arts Festival.
Charlie Street
Director of Black Square Arts and Regional Manager of Cape York Employment. Businessman, philanthropist and self-identified social entrepreneur. Black Square Arts leverages a for-profit enterprise to fulfil a social and cultural mission.
Stu Watters
25 years professional experience in private, government and the non-profit sectors with music and creative industries; extensive experience in lobbying and advocacy, high level events management and curatorial experience, conference development and management, and curriculum development experience.
Deb Suckling
Songwriter and musician, Deb was the Program Manager for QMusic for many years overseeing Queensland Music Awards, BIGSOUND and coordinating professional development workshops. Deb has also been a project manager for BEMAC and BACKBONE Youth Arts and works currently with the Archie Roach Foundation in their First Nations programs.
Kellie O’Dempsey
Artist and educator Kellie creates site-generated installations and performances that integrate projection, video, collage, architectural space, gestural line and performance. O’Dempsey’s diverse practice explores, deconstructs and heightens the concept of public space as shared experience.
Julie Beveridge
Arts Manager with 20 years experience in literature, festivals, community development, performing arts and touring in the Queensland context. Currently Julie works for The Humour Foundation, an arts based health charity that provides medical clowning to paediatric hospitals and aged care facilities nationally.
Toni Janke
Wuthathi and Meriam singer, songwriter, coach and consultant. Toni is an award-winning singer/songwriter who has released four independent original albums, performed at various festivals and events across Australia. She was a recipient of a national Deadly Award which she received in 2004 for Best Female Artist of the Year.
Louise Mayhew
Australian Feminist Art Historian and the Founding Editor of Lemonade, a new weekly reviews platform for exhibitions in the Sunshine state. For over a decade, Louise has been helping emerging artists and small arts organisations to navigate the artworld, first as an academic and more recently as a consultant.
Elliott Bledsoe
Arts marketing consultant supporting artists, arts organisations and groups to introduce marketing strategy and optimise their marketing communications efforts.
Felicity Chapman
Proud Aboriginal woman living on Ngaro country using weaving, eco-dying and photography to connect people and communities. A person living with a disability, Felicity also has a background in major project management, financial administration and more.
Lia Pa’apa’a
Lia has cultural connections to Samoa and the Luiseño nation of Southern California. She is an artist, Creative Producer and Community Arts Cultural Development practitioner across urban, regional and remote settings.
Jenuarrie Warrie
Belonging to Koinjmal Country (Central Qld) and raised in Rockhampton, Jenuarrie is a celebrated visual artist and artsworker with experience leading arts organisations, policy development, consulting and more.
How?
Registrations for the 2022 program are now closed.
The following outlines the process utilised in 2022 for new registrants:
You’ll be matched to the Creative Business Champion that best suits your needs and will have an online consultation to address your specific needs.
CBCs will appraise suitability for mentoring, and recommendations will be based on:
Potential – The participant demonstrates potential for achievement of significant professional outcomes through mentoring.
Commitment – The participant demonstrates commitment to professional development
Vision – Showcases a strong concept / growth idea and has a vision of what their work, business or project can achieve
Strong foundations – The participant has a business/project planning documents in place or shows an understanding of the need for these
Industry Experience – The participant has at least two years’ experience of earning income in the arts sector, with a track record of achievements and successful delivery, and existing partnerships and collaborations.
Questions? Read our Frequently Asked Questions.
If you have any other questions please contact us.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with the 2021 Creative Business Champions program. As someone new to the field of arts partnerships and fundraising, my CBC was extremely helpful and an invaluable resource to begin this chapter of my career. The work I undertook via the CBC program really broadened my professional horizons, particularly in identifying grant opportunities both within and outside of the traditional arts sector. I would highly recommend the program for anyone looking to connect with experts in their respective fields across Queensland.”
[/fusion_testimonial][fusion_testimonial name=”Karen Jacobsen” avatar=”none” company=” – the GPS Girl.” target=”_self”]“The meeting was epic. I left feeling empowered, reassured and with clear steps to take. My CBC helped me see that having an overview for the next 12 months outlined will give me the ability to schedule a tour, the release of new music and PR activity effectively. Even if this plan needs to be fine-tuned frequently it will assist with funding opportunities to move my creative projects into reality and to present to potential partners.”
[/fusion_testimonial][/fusion_testimonials]Our Program Team
Ant McKenna
Creative capacity builder, mentor, creative thinker, award nominated song writer, strategic planner, creative leader. Ant has worked in creative and cultural development sectors in partnership with industry, NFP and government across Queensland, interstate and internationally.
Liz Ellison
Associate Professor, BCI (Hons) (QUT), PhD (QUT) Deputy Dean (Research) School of Education and the Arts Centre for Research in Equity & Advancement of Teaching & Education (CREATE)
Alex McCallum
13 years’ experience designing, managing and facilitating mentoring projects, workshops and community cultural development processes in Brisbane and regional Queensland. Including 8 years developing and delivering public programing at Youth Arts Queensland and freelance projects in numerous schools and libraries
Patty Preece
Project Manager - Savannah Way Arts Trail, School of Education and the Arts. Patty has extensive creative industry experience, most notably as the location recordist for ABC Kids / mememe productions Get Grubby TV.
Vicki Saunders
Dr Vicki Saunders is a Gunggari woman from the Maranoa region, SW Queensland. She has a background in psychology and public health research, and is currently working with CQUs Jilbay RHD Academy and Jawun Research Centre, and CRE-STRIDE. Over the last 20 years, her work has involved testing the value of arts informed, Indigenous and poetic research approaches in addressing complex community research questions. Her research focusses on acoustic agency, wellbeing and the power of deep, active listening.
Liz Ellison
Associate Professor, BCI (Hons) (QUT), PhD (QUT) Deputy Dean (Research) School of Education and the Arts Centre for Research in Equity & Advancement of Teaching & Education (CREATE)
Alex McCallum
13 years’ experience designing, managing and facilitating mentoring projects, workshops and community cultural development processes in Brisbane and regional Queensland. Including 8 years developing and delivering public programing at Youth Arts Queensland and freelance projects in numerous schools and libraries
Patty Preece
Project Manager - Savannah Way Arts Trail, School of Education and the Arts. Patty has extensive creative industry experience, most notably as the location recordist for ABC Kids / mememe productions Get Grubby TV.
Vicki Saunders
Dr Vicki Saunders is a Gunggari woman from the Maranoa region, SW Queensland. She has a background in psychology and public health research, and is currently working with CQUs Jilbay RHD Academy and Jawun Research Centre, and CRE-STRIDE. Over the last 20 years, her work has involved testing the value of arts informed, Indigenous and poetic research approaches in addressing complex community research questions.
Ant McKenna
Creative capacity builder, mentor, creative thinker, award nominated song writer, strategic planner, creative leader. Ant has worked in creative and cultural development sectors in partnership with industry, NFP and government across Queensland, interstate and internationally.
CQUniversity is serving as the Catchment Three