Big hArt: Knot@Home
Big hArt works with communities directly through arts intervention projects empowering marginalised young people to tell their own stories. The initiative began in Burnie in Tasmania back in 1992, established by artistic director Scott Rankin and John Bakes. Big hArt has two main aims: to create high quality performance and artworks for a national forum, and to change the often destructive trajectory of the people they work with, into a positive one. The success of the program is due to the intense commitment of time – 150 weeks – where high profile artists and musicians mentor young people, on these long-term projects. Young people from Indigenous communities, and urban cities across Australia, have been working over 3 years on the project “knot@home” which deals with issues of isolation and is just about to wrap up in Sydney, at the Opera House. Kylie Eastley, Media and Management Liaison with Big Art explained why the success of their projects is based in their approach. Actors Kerry Armstrong and Trevor Jamieson have mentored the young people over the past 3 years. Lynette is a young writer who has participated in the knot@home project. Thanks to David Jobling for some material.