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South Stradbroke Island | Photography by Jo-Anne Driessens
Wed 15 May, 2024
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Week commencing Mon 17 June, 2024
21 June – 7 July, 2024
1-11 August, 2024
Experience Gold Coast is inviting expressions of interest from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander professionals who are passionate about culture and place to join the First Nation Reference Group for BLEACH* and BIG CITY LIGHTS*.
Applicants are encouraged to have relevant experience or an understanding of the education, tourism or events industry.
The First Nation Reference Group works with the BLEACH* and BIG CITY LIGHTS* teams towards building a solid foundation that supports accurate, authentic and respectful representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and principles, and that these principles are embedded throughout the ecology of festival planning and delivery.
BLEACH* is one of Australia’s leading place-based contemporary arts festivals. The festival has played a pivotal role in terms of reinvigorating the cultural life of the Gold Coast and provided significant impact to and influence on the development of the arts and culture ecology in the south-east QLD region.
BIG CITY LIGHTS* is south-east Queensland’s leading festival of urban and digital design, digital culture, music and light taking place during the Winter months.
BLEACH* and BIG CITY LIGHTS* are part of the newly formed Experience Gold Coast.
Experience Gold Coast has brought together Destination Gold Coast, Major Events Gold Coast, Study Gold Coast, Placemakers*, and HOTA, Home of the Arts under one entity. Our focus is on strengthening the Gold Coast’s position as Australia’s premier tourism destination, being a home of major events, a preferred place to study and delivering arts and cultural experiences.
The purpose of the group is to provide cultural advice and guidance to support the strategic vision of the annual BLEACH* and BIG CITY LIGHTS* festivals. This includes:
This expression of interest is seeking new members to join existing members of the Reference Group. It is anticipated that the group will comprise a minimum of four (4) and maximum of six (6) members.
Members of the First Nation Reference Group are paid an honorarium to attend meetings, where they provide advice and guidance as outlined above. Further details of these meetings (exact dates, times, lengths, etc) will be negotiated directly with the members of the group, factoring in their availability and any cultural needs and/or access requirements.
Once the meeting schedule is confirmed, Group members will be expected to make all possible efforts to attend scheduled meetings.
Members will be invited to attend key events connected to BLEACH* and BIG CITY LIGHTS* including Festival performances, launch events and fundraising activities. Attendance at these events is optional and does not form part of the members paid duties, unless otherwise agreed with the members directly.
The Group is looking for new members who:
Declare any conflicts of interest on their Expression of Interest form.
Membership of the Reference Group will, where possible, reflect a broad range of lived experiences and skills.
Reference Group meetings shall also be attended by Experience Gold Coast employees:
Head to our Frequently Asked Questions below for more information about the role and application process.
If your question is not answered there, or if you have any technical difficulties or accessibility requirements in order to complete your application, please contact Admin & Operations Coordinator, Emma-June Curik via the below methods:
Email: admin@placemakers.org.au
Phone: 07 55 256 468
SMS: 0429 489 969
BLEACH* and BIG CITY LIGHTS* are committed to being as inclusive and accessible at possible. If you require any of the application materials in a different format, or would like to discuss how we can accommodate any access requirements you may have in order to apply, please contact Emma-June Curik, via your preferred method:
Email: admin@placemakers.org.au
Phone: 0755 256 468
Mobile/SMS: 0429 489 969
The First Nation Reference Group will be a group of individuals who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander who meet several times a year and provide cultural advice and guidance to the team of people that organise BLEACH and BIG CITY LIGHTS Festivals.
BLEACH* and BIG CITY LIGHTS* are arts festivals, previously run by an organisation named Placemakers Gold Coast and are now part of the newly formed Experience Gold Coast.
BLEACH* is one of Australia’s leading place-based contemporary arts festivals. The festival has played a pivotal role in terms of reinvigorating the cultural life of the Gold Coast and provided significant impact to and influence on the development of the arts and culture ecology in the south-east QLD region.
BIG CITY LIGHTS* is south-east QLD’s leading festival of urban and digital design, digital culture, music and light taking place during the Winter months.
Operative from September 2023, Experience Gold Coast promotes, advocates, and collaborates with industry, government and the community to strengthen the Gold Coast’s position as Australia’s premier tourism destination, the home of major events, a preferred place to study and a city that values and celebrates arts and cultural experiences.
Reference Group meetings are most likely to be held via a digital meeting platform like Zoom or Teams.
This will be discussed and agreed upon between the Reference Group members.
Members of the First Nation Reference Group are offered an honorarium for each meeting they attend.
Members of the Reference Group will also be invited to attend a selection of BLEACH* and BIG CITY LIGHTS* events, however attendance at these events will be optional.
Absolutely! Please make sure that you list your access requirements on your Expression of Interest application, and if we need to discuss further with you, we’ll be in touch.
All Expressions of Interest will be reviewed and shortlisted by the existing members of the First Nations Reference Group, along with the Artistic Director, BLEACH* and BIG CITY LIGHTS*.
Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an interview. The interviewing panel is likely to include a combination of members of the First Nation Reference Group and staff from BLEACH* and BIG CITY LIGHTS*.
It is important that the members of the Reference Group understand the landscape and community in which BLEACH* and BIG CITY LIGHTS* operate, and so we believe that our members should demonstrate some connection to the Gold Coast and the surrounding region.
However, this does not mean that all members need to currently live on the Gold Coast – they may have other connections, such as family heritage, employment, a strong history of advocacy, prior residence etc.
If you have questions about this part of the submission, we encourage you to get in contact with us to discuss this further before submitting.
For any further questions about the First Nation Reference Group, including additional formats or technical questions, you can contact our Admin and Operations Coordinator, Emma-June Curik via the following methods:
Email: admin@placemakers.org.au
Phone: 0755 256 468
SMS: 0438 249 748
If you have any feedback about this page, or the Reference Group, we encourage you to contact us via these methods and a member of the team will reach out to discuss your thoughts with you. If you have a specific way you prefer to communicate (with an Auslan interpreter, Zoom call, phone etc.) we encourage you to let us know when you contact us, so we can endeavour to continue the conversation via your preferred method.
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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Yugambeh Language Region and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People of the Gold Coast. We recognise their continuing connection and contributions to country and culture. We pay respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Yugambeh Language Region and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People of the Gold Coast. We recognise their continuing connection and contributions to country and culture. We pay respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
