Crossroad Arts Information

Crossroad Arts was established in 1996 for the purpose of engaging people with and without disabilities to create original stories in theatre, film, music, dance and visual art, about their lives and the region and celebrate the arts of difference. Our first 5 years was best summed up by Courier Mail Theatre Critic Alison Coates in her review of Letters from River Street " an expression of community enterprise and commitment. This was community theatre at its best, using the musical, artistic and theatrical skills of local people, some with disabilities and some without, to create a work of immense power. Over the next 10 years the company consolidated their successes with a concerted educational mentorship program for emerging artists towards building a solid base of succession and pathways into the industry. It was characterised by a strong partnership drive with peer organisations such as Queensland Theatre Company and JUTE. Several mentorees went on to develop successful careers in the arts. This program still continues today in partnership with James Cook University, Contact Inc and Central Qld University. During this time the company developed a national and international profile with their work in disabilities and with the Indigenous and Australian South Sea Islander community. The play Melek mo Hani was invited to tour the South Sea Islands and went on to tour Australia through the Queensland Arts Council "This brilliant piece of storytelling richly deserves a return seasonit should not be missed on any account. A work of national significance. Arts Nexus Cairns 2008 The play will be published by Playlab Press in August 2013. In 2006, Regional Arts Australia invited the company to open the National Regional Arts Conference with their Indigenous and South Sea production of No 2 Stones. Crossroad Arts followed it up with a documentary film which was distributed nationally to 1500 people and continues today to sell to both local, national and overseas markets. In 2009, two members of the company's Autism ...