Digi Youth Arts (DYA) presents Coast To Coast. Tune in to see this online creative coastal exchange showcasing music, spoken word and visual arts works of young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artists connected to the so-called Sunshine + Gold Coasts. 

This event is an opportunity for Indigenous young people to bring Coastal connections, that have always existed, into a new creative context. 

This program is a part of remake-regenerate-reclaim and has been supported by the Australian Governments Indigenous Languages and Arts program.

Image: Kane Brunjes | Greater Gliders | 2020 | acrylic on canvas | 40x70cm

FEATURED ARTISTS

Kane Brunjes
Kane Brunjes is a Gunggari, Kabi Kabi man practicing in both public and gallery realms. Through his art practice Brunjes aims to solidify and represent a visual portrayal of how he views and reacts to the environment surrounding him with consideration to history and story. Now working exclusively with Birrunga Gallery he continues to develop these core foundations with a guided lens of expertise.

Brunjes is the inaugural participant in Birrunga Gallery’s 3 year Cultural Creative Residential program.

Andrew Coleman
Andrew Coleman is a Bundjalung-Githabul artist from the Somerset Region, South-West of Brisbane. His earliest musical influences can be traced to long family road trips with the three Johns (Cash, Denver, and Horton); later finding a deep love for Blues and Rock & Roll.

When he’s not exploring his second home of Greenville, South Carolina, he is performing around the Southeast, delivering electrifying performances and hair-raising stage tricks with his trusted three-piece rock band ‘Caravan’.

Emily Coleman
Emily Coleman is an emerging multidisciplinary creative artist and a fiercely proud Bundjalung Githabul woman from a long line of strong storytelling women. As a thank you, to everyone that came before- her work has and will always focus on the magic in Indigenous Storytelling.

Emily has worked in the arts for over a decade in a huge variety of roles, from stage performer & touring 'arts in education' actor, to Community Engagement & Creative Producer  - but her most recent and biggest achievement was being appointed as the Acting Associate Artistic Director of Digi Youth Arts. 

Cormac Finn
Cormac Finn is a proud Kabi Kabi man and musician. He is involved with Digi Youth Arts (DYA) as a Youth Artist and Youth Board Member. He has been involved in several DYA events,  most recently as an active band member of ‘The Ancient Bloods’, who recently recorded an album as part of the where we stand project. Cormac also recently worked on the sound installation component of a large scale artwork presented at Woodford Folk Festival.

Eleea
Award winning singer-songwriter and avid solo traveller, ELEEA, is releasing new single ‘Space’ from ‘The Travel Collection’ of songs - an anthology influenced by her independent backpacking trips to 35+ countries. ELEEA’s rich vocals and mature songwriting has seen her perform throughout Australia and internationally, captivating live audiences and taking them along on her journey. ELEEA’s life, music and performances are anything but dull and will leave you feeling inspired to be fearless, independent and chase adventure.

Loki Liddle
Loki is a Jabirr Jabirr man based on the Gold Coast. His practise includes performing in his band Selve, performance poetry, playing as a member of The Ancient Bloods and producing for DYA. Loki loves being a part of DYA. For him it is a rewarding process of connecting with other young Indigenous artists and arts workers. It has helped him to create a more culturally informed practise across all of his own artforms and his DYA work. Through his role at DYA Loki has had the opportunity to help deliver and be involved in many exciting projects, from NAIDOC week through to Woodford Folk Festival. As an artist Loki aims to tell stories, clothing ancient themes with a contemporary voice. He can often be mischievous in the way he goes about this playful mission, usually to be seen with his nose buried in a pile of mounting journals while his pen scribbles like an inky snake into the heart of the matter, or disturbing his house-mates by conjuring strange songs at irregular times of night. Whatever it is, you can trust that he is enjoying himself.

Nadia Morrison
Nadia Morrison is a bluesy, political, storyteller who portrays strong messages through her music. Nadia’s inspiration comes from Hip Hop legends such as Tupac Shakur and Lauryn Hill to jazz household names such as the iconic Amy Winehouse. She is a singer in the second iteration of DYA’s ‘The Ancient Bloods’. The past year has been so exciting for her musically; performing at QPAC several times as well as the Tivoli and Yonder festival to name a few. Nadia also got to contribute to iconic Australian artist Mojo Juju’s musical journey singing back up vocals for her Native Tongue tour Brisbane show.

Jain Rhys
Reece Bowden is a multi-instrumental musician and self-produced artist from the Gold Coast. He is part of the Anaiwan tribe and is in a process of discovery surrounding what that means to his artistic process. He is a core member of Gold Coast band ‘Selve’ and is also currently working on material for his first full-length release under moniker Jain Rhys.