Celebrating a decade of participatory arts practice, Queensland-based organisation Everybody NOW! will mark its tenth anniversary in 2025 with a dynamic year-long program of residencies, collaborations, and public events. Blending creativity with community engagement, the company’s work has brought art-making into parks, aged-care homes, hospitals, schools, and street corners across the country.
Since its inception, Everybody NOW! has sought to champion a multidisciplinary approach to storytelling, using dance, visual arts, music, and performance to bring people together and share real-life experiences with warmth and optimism. These opportunities have ranged from slam poetry and roller-skating rock shows, to interactive radio projects and art in aged-care facilities. Staying true to the organisation’s name, they seek to bring everybody into their activities through inclusivity.
In marking their 10th anniversary, Executive Director Kate Baggerson has reflected on the group’s journey:
“For ten years, we’ve had the privilege of collaborating with extraordinary artists, community members, and organisations across the country.
Over the years we’ve built a significant body of data that attests to the social value of participatory art-making in bonding and building experiences that support communities to develop relationships, connection, and improve wellbeing. We have moved communities, we’ve generated joy and we’ve shared real people’s stories in powerful, playful and optimistic ways. As we move into our next decade, we believe this is a critical time for creating art in this way, to weather uncertain times and combat polarisation
Donna Orazio, Chair of Everybody NOW! also added:
We are proud of the profound impact our work has had on individuals and communities over the last ten years. We create ambitious, high-quality arts projects with real-world benefits, and as we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to deepening connections, amplifying new voices, and continuing to make art that matters.
So… you may be wondering… what’s in store for this year? Some of the shared highlights include:
- A Place to Belong, a new visual arts collaboration with UK-based designer Morag Myerscough
- Sky Ribbons, an installation featuring 10,000 community-contributed messages at HOTA Home of the Arts
- A series of artist residencies under the Artist-in-Place initiative
- Intergenerational community events, including birthday projects for the Ipswich Civic Centre and Her Majesty’s Theatre Ballarat
- Touring performances of the participatory Tin Can Radio installation
- A health-focused poetry residency at Gold Coast University Hospital
The program concludes with Art in the Park on 29 November, a community event featuring live music, food, and interactive art experiences. Most events will be free or low-cost, in keeping with Everybody NOW!’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion. More information about the organisation and its 2025 program can be found on its official website.
