“Over the last decade, we’ve had the privilege of collaborating with extraordinary artists, community members, and organisations nationally,” said Executive Director Kate Baggerson.” 

“In creating this anniversary program, we’ve been reflecting on those relationships, and have deeply considered our place at home on the Gold Coast and across Australia alongside the impacts our work can have into the future. This milestone is not just a celebration of our past, but a launchpad into an exciting new chapter marked by our commitment to providing new and innovative ways for communities to access and participate in the arts, to tell their stories, ignite their creativity and come together through art.” Our 2025 program reflects our growth into a truly multi-disciplinary organisation playfully moving between genres from dance, music, writing, performance and visual arts – always connected by Real People, Real Stories, Everybody NOW!

2025 Program Highlights

Highlights include our first international collaboration with global design sensation Morag Myerscough (UK); a residency and new work development program Artist-In-Place; major commissions serendipitously birthday aligned with the 150th Anniversary of Her Majesty’s Theatre Ballarat and the 50th Anniversary of Ipswich Civic Centre; a new program of carefully curated arts and wellbeing workshops, Creative and Connected; and of course, our national program of touring works. 

“We hope our 2025 program embodies a spirit of hope, joy and optimism, bringing together diverse voices in a series of deeply engaging, community-driven arts projects curated around themes of home and belonging.

Participation, collaboration and conversation is at the heart of the program with lots of opportunities for communities and people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to come together to create art, within primarily free activities to support inclusive participation.”  For us, our art-making is deeply tied to impact, underpinned by research that highlights the arts as a catalyst for social cohesion, wellbeing, and improved mental and physical health.  Over the years we’ve built a significant body of data that attest to the social value of participatory art-making for bonding and building experiences that support communities to develop relationships, connection and improve wellbeing. As we enter our next decade, we remain dedicated to creating art with impact, that connects, inspires, and ignites creativity for all.  With new programming initiatives, artistic collaborations and partnerships, our 2025 program will allow us to reach more communities and create a pipeline of new Queensland work for years to come. Everybody NOW!’s Chair, Donna Orazio said

“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”.

2025 Anniversary Program Overview

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the highlights of our 2025 program:

8 March – 21 May
‘Artist in Place’ Residency 1 – Threads of Belonging
with Tal Fitzpatrick and Melissa Spratt
A free intergenerational and intercultural textiles project for women, exploring the heart of belonging through quilting, stitching, finger-knitting, and crafting – delivered in the most Northern communities of the Gold Coast.

9–11 May
‘Tin Can Radio’ at DreamBIG Festival (SA)
Kids and their families are invited to take over the airways at this fun and playful pop-up radio station for the young and young at heart, presented at South Australia’s iconic arts festival for schools and families.

March – November
‘Poet-in Residence’ with Gold Coast University Hospital
As part of our Creative and Connected program, Queensland Performance Poet and Writer Angela Pieta will facilitate a year-long poetry program to support chronic pain outpatients.

29 – 31 May
‘Sky Ribbons’ with HOTA Home of the Arts, becomes CLOUD PLAY at WONDER 2025 Earlier this year, over 10,000 messages of gratitude were shared by Gold Coasters through Sky Ribbons, a heartfelt community project by Everybody NOW! Now, these messages form the heart of CLOUD PLAY – a stunning international art installation to be unveiled in the sky above HOTA, Home of the Arts, as part of WONDER 2025. Every ribbon tells a story of what it means to call the Gold Coast home.

2–4 July
‘Tin Can Radio’ at Mackay Festival
Our participatory, live radio installation continues, amplifying young voices in Mackay. From fictional news to random reviews, song requests, love advice, fashion tips, interviews, and roving reports – all ideas are welcome at Tin Can Radio!

19 July
Ipswich Civic Centre 50th Anniversary
A celebratory concert event, showcasing stories from the Ipswich Civic Centre, its place in the community, and the people that have animated this vital civic space for the last 50 years.

September
‘Artist in Place’ Residency 2 with Lann Levinge
A Kombumerri man with a passion for music and language development, Lann will explore sound composition and connection to Country with First Nations young people, creating immersive soundscapes for positive wellbeing.

October
‘Artist in Place’ Residency 3 – Home Stories
Ros Oades is an Award-Winning Australian actress, puppeteer, and theatre artist, acclaimed for her work pioneering documentary theatre making, headphone verbatim techniques, and audio installations. Ros will be developing a new work called Home Stories; A sunset experience overlooking the Gold Coast skyline featuring local audio stories of relocation and transformation.

September – October
‘Creative and Connected’
An artist-led workshop series playfully curated to generate social connection and wellbeing – held during Queensland Mental Health Week, the School Holidays, and Seniors Month. From Meaningful Mark Making, Seniors Shake Out, Young Movers, and more – there is something for everyone.

November
‘A Place to Belong’
Bold, energetic, and ambitious, A Place to Belong is an exciting new collaboration between Everybody NOW! and global design sensation Morag Myerscough (UK).
Myerscough is an internationally acclaimed artist, designer, and advocate for community-focused public art, renowned for her vibrant and immersive public art installations that transform urban environments. Morag uses bold colours, patterns, and words to create spaces that foster a sense of community, belonging, and joy.
Everybody NOW! has invited Morag to Queensland to lead public workshops, artist exchanges, and talks exploring themes of home and belonging.

29 November
Art in the Park
Everybody NOW’s annual, open, and accessible Art in the Park event features various artists from throughout our 2025 program. This year, the event will include music by Parker, local community brass bands, plus in true Everybody NOW! style, lots of art participation, food, and connection.

A most heartfelt gratitude to the amazing community of artists, participants, friends, funders, partners, donor, and cheerleaders who continue to support Everybody NOW and those who attended our 10 Year Anniversary event! (You can read more about our awesome partners here.). If you would like to make a donation to our work you can read more about our supporters program here or purchase some of our 10 Year Anniversary Fundraising Merch here. For more on our 10th-anniversary celebrations sign up to our eNews here! Thanks for being a part of our future! Check out our Anniversary Merch right here.