Media Releases

NEW GEEKS IN RESIDENCE FOR ARTS ORGANISATIONS

Four arts organisations will employ geeks who will share their passion for solving technological problems in creative environments, helping arts workers become better equipped to work in digital spaces.

Now in its third year, the Australia Council for the Arts’ Geek in Residence program supports organisations to employ geeks to deliver dynamic digital initiatives across their organisation and its community. The geeks provide skills, information and connections needed to succeed in the digital era.

Geek in Residence is a really popular program because it’s not just about an external expert delivering a digital project and then leaving the building, says Libby Christie Acting Chief Executive of the Australia Council. The program provides intensive professional development for artists and the participating organisations in their own environment leaving a valuable legacy in terms of new organizational skills and digital capacity.”

Western Sydney’s Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) are well known for working at the intersection of the arts, community cultural development and digital technology, but a recent technology audit found they were in need of some geek know-how’ and a strategic approach to keeping the organisation up-to-date with rapidly changing technologies.

The Geek in Residence at ICE will work closely with ICE manager, producers and curatorial staff to build capacity within the organisation to engage in digital change. The geek will work across all aspects of the ICE’s activity from community development, creative enterprise, training marketing and promotion and operations.

At Arts Access Victoria a project lead by Akash Temple, an artist with a disability and a self-professed technology geek, will explore and promote the ways artists and audiences with a disability are using technology to overcome barriers to participation in arts and cultural activities.

The residency will ultimately deliver a fully-accessible digital publication produced by artists with a disability. The publication will outline available technology and how it can be used by producers and organisations to work with artists with a disability, and to engage audience members who have a disability.

A unique opportunity at Barkly Regional Arts (NT) in Tennant Creek will see a resident geek explore the interface of new media and Indigenous cultures in remote regional Australia. The geek will work within Barkly Arts as they focus on exploring how arts and culture in their communities can interact with cutting edge digital media.

Bell Shakespeare’s (NSW) geek will be the driving force behind a new online platform for inter-community exchange. A unique and advanced online interface will share the company’s touring stories as well as fostering dialogue between communities and the company. An additional component will enhance the company’s Learning Program with access to learning resources and virtual classroom activities extending the experience of their in-school program.

Some of the geek roles will be recruited during February.
Follow the Australia Council on Twitter @auscouncilarts and the hash tag #residentgeeks to keep up with all the latest geek activity.