How would you describe the current state of the music and arts scene in Brisbane?
Right now it feels like we’re on the edge of a growth period in smaller arts projects. There seem to be so many new venues opening up, new magazines starting, a huge amount of new bands battling for gigs around the city and seeing the exhibitions hosted by GOMA really makes me excited about the next few years. Even with the massive reduction in arts funding from this government, it seems that the arts and music community is very resilient in finding ways to make projects come together.

If you were to take a visitor on a cultural tour of Brisbane, what would be on the list?
GOMA, street art around the city, Jugglers Art Space and The Shed, and Trainspotters.

You’ve had a hand in bringing some great local groups and events to life – what new things have you discovered about Brisbane since taking on these roles?
A huge amount of talented people and a very keen audience! I suppose taking on these roles has given me an opportunity to bring these two groups together.

What can you tell us about the Found project and its potential to benefit the Brisbane arts scene?
The major challenge that I’ve experienced in all of the shows I’ve been involved in is finding a venue that’s both appropriate and affordable – Found is a place dedicated to supporting emerging arts. We not only host events but work heavily with other artist-run initiatives around Brisbane to share resources and contacts.

You’ve followed in the footsteps of many innovators with big dreams but few pennies, and have launched a Pozible campaign to help fund the project. What are the advantages of taking this route?
It provides a reputable and reliable platform to coordinate crowd funding. With many more people becoming aware of online fundraising, Pozible has a large number of successful projects. Another thing that helps with using a platform like Pozible is it offers a way for people to pre-purchase something rather than just donating a sum of money.

You’re co-founder and director of multi-arts group, Lost Movements. How has the not-for-profit helped break down the barriers that often impede emerging talent?
There’s a large gap between emerging artists and commercial opportunities; this was the original motive for starting Lost Movements as a way to bridge this gap by creating a space for creatives to share their work. This has been achieved through peer support amongst participants, engaging audiences leading to exposure and mentorship from the more experienced people involved.

The group’s Lost gigs have earned a reputation for showcasing a great line-up of local acts, what’s been the most inspiring performance for you so far?
I’ve seen some incredibly talented people come through the nine shows we’ve had so far; it’s very hard to choose just one, although there are two that I have to mention. A group called The Unusual Suspects that’s loosely run by Linsey Pollak; they performed at a Lost Movements event in August and blew me away. There’s a total of 24 people in the band – eight drummers, six saxes, two trumpets, a clarinet, a tenor horn, two trombones, a sousaphone, an iPod, a cittern and a cumbus. The other was a visual art performance piece by Damien Kamholtz painting live, with Katy Woods and Jake Stewart moving to reflect the artwork (would this be called interpretive dance? I’m not sure!). Damien is an incredible artist and the live reflection of the performers’ movements on the 2×2-metre canvas was unlike anything I’d ever seen before.

You’re also the curator of monthly live art battle Scribble Slam, how did this come about?
The Scribble Slam concept came up in a conversation with the now-MC Illma Gore and it was trialled at a Lost Movements event last year. The battle was hugely successful and motivated me to seek out a venue to host it as a standalone event. Kerbside loved the concept and came on board very soon after – on January 30 this year we’ll be up to our tenth battle. Visual art tends to be quite a solitary pursuit, so painting live in front of hundreds of people with a timer ticking down is very far from most peoples’ comfort zones. This makes for a lot of fun while challenging people to think differently about how they create their work.

Who are some other local creatives we should keep an eye out for?
Patrick Balfe who is currently running Trainspotters is doing some great things for the live music scene in Brisbane. Peter Breen from Jugglers Art Space has put a huge amount of time and resources into supporting visual art in Brisbane, especially young and emerging artists. Also, Holly Ryan is an amazing local jewellery designer who makes everything by hand.

When was the last time something took your breath away? Prix Ars Electronica in Austria.

What’s one piece of art that really moved you?
It’s very hard to choose one but maybe a series: The Giant Storybook Project by Herakut. They travelled the world painting absolutely massive street art pieces, building a story along the way.

What are you reading at the moment?
Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think by Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler. I’m studying Technology Innovation at QUT so it’s very related to that.

What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
Gig tickets, a backpack of Montana, and Stone & Wood Pacific Ale.

What is success to you?
Contentment.

What are your words of wisdom for aspiring creatives?
Keep at it and don’t be afraid to ask for help, there are so many people in Brisbane who will be more than happy to give you their support.

Only a Brisbane local would know … the best bars aren’t in Fortitude Valley.

FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up … Au Cirque, New Farm.
Relax … home.
Listen to live tunes … Trainspotters, Brisbane City.
Browse art … GOMA, South Bank.
Catch-up … Kerbside, Fortitude Valley.
Be inspired … the streets.