BEN GRAETZ

Founder & Creative Director

BEN GRAETZ was born and raised in Darwin, Northern Territory (Larrakia Country) and has cultural ties to Malak Malak, Kungarakan, Muran Clan (Iwaidja) & Torres Strait Islands (Badu Island). Ben has been working in the performing arts sector for over 26 years and has established himself as one of this country’s most dynamic and influential arts makers, working as a Performer, Creative Director, Producer, Programmer, Writer, DJ, MC and Director.

Ben has a very strong knowledge of the arts in Australia, with extensive experience working in this space, and very strong networks in community, government and corporate arenas. He has aleading role in this arts sector nationally contributing to many of the key organisations including the Australia Council for the Arts and Theatre Network Australia. He also has strong international networks and relationships with artists, companies and organisations such as WAA(Western Arts Alliance, USA), ISPA (International Society of Performing Arts), IPAA (IndigenousPerforming Arts Alliance, Canada), Talking Stick Festival Vancouver, CAPACOA (Canadian ArtsPresenting Association), PS122, PUSH festival, Canadian Stage, the NAC (National Arts Centre,Canada), CINARS (CANADA), Native Earth (Toronto).

Ben is the Founder of BRG Productions which is a 100% owned and run Blak Business working in the creative sector. He is also the Co-Director of Party Passport, company that creates, runs and produces events that celebrate diversity and inclusion, with a particular focus on First Nations LGBTQIA+ Brotherboy & Sistergirl communities.

He has a reputation for excellence, from his ability to work collaboratively with artists and communities to his role in developing the sector into the future. He has strong leadership skills and an ability to form deep relationships based on trust and positive outcomes.

Most recently Ben was the Co - Festival Creative Director of Sydney World Pride 2023 and is currently the Creative Director for Garrmalang Festival, the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA), National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) and is a co-curator for Sugarbag Festival.

One of Ben’s career highlights is starting Darwin’s first ever Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander multi-arts major festival - GARRMALANG - while working at the Darwin Entertainment as their Creative Producer. The festival worked with Larrakia Nation and surrounding communities to create a 3-day long festival which celebrates first nation arts and culture both Territory and nationwide.

Ben has also been on the Board of Theatre Network Australia and was one of only 5 people selected nationally to travel to the USA for 4 years to be a part of the International arts conference ISPA (International Society of Performing Arts) held in New York in January each year.

Ben is passionate about the performing arts sector in Australia and the Northern Territory, particularly around First Nation and LGBTQIA+SB arts, culture & advocacy. Ben is not only a dynamic creative but also one of the country's most exciting curator’s.

Education and Training

• 2011 - Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Arts Management from VCAM in Victoria

• 2008 - Graduate Diploma in Movement Studies from NIDA

• 1998 - Bachelor of Dramatic Arts in Acting from NIDA

• 1995 - Advanced Certificate in Aboriginal Musical Theatre from WAAPA in Perth WA

Steering Committees, Board and Governance

• Theatre Network Australia: Board Member (National)•Western Arts Alliance: First Nation Planning Committee (International/Canada)

• Blak Fella Performing Arts Alliance (National)

• Blak Lines National Touring Initiative: Community Consortium member (National)

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board (ATSIAB) - Australia Council for the Arts:Board Member (National)

• Darwin Theatre Network: Steering Committee (Northern Territory)

Sydney WorldPride 2023

Role: Festival Creative Director

Sydney WorldPride was the first WorldPride to take place in the Southern Hemisphere. Over 17 days of celebration & visibility – over a million festival attendees came to Sydney to experience the best in LGBTQIA+SB creativity, and to stand together in a powerful call for equality. The theme for the festival, GATHER, DREAM, AMPLIFY. It acknowledged and celebrated the traditional custodians of Australia and represented our commitment to equality and inclusion.

Sugarbag Festival 2022 to present

Role: Co-Curator

Sugarbag Festival vision is to create a unique, high quality & inclusive arts and cultural festival that is LGBTQIA+SB lead, celebrates diversity and brings together all the fabulous aspects of our community including its identity and relationship to place.

Sugarbag Festival recognises the importance and benefits of arts and culture and how it can shape our everyday lives, make a social statement & build culture within a community.

National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) 2020 to present

Role: Creative Director

The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. The Awards are presented at a special event in August as part of Darwin Festival, and feature the best of Indigenous music talent.

Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) 2023/2024

Role: Creative Director

The Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA) exhibition ​is the longest running and most prestigious Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award. Experience the richness and diversity of current contemporary Indigenous artistic practice and the pre-eminence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, nationwide, within the visual arts.

GARRMALANG Festival 2014/15/21/24

Role: Artistic Director & Creator

The Garrmalang Festival is Darwin’s premier three-day long Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural festival in May each year celebrating music, dance, art, cabaret and theatre. This festival acknowledges the Larrakia people and celebrates the diversity of the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community in the Top End of Australia. It stages a number of events and shows which are appropriate for people of all ages and accessible to the whole community. The festival is about connecting all of the community and highlighting the incredible Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander talent that the Northern Territory and Australia’s has to offer.

Arafura Games Opening & Closing Celebrations 2019

Role: Creative Director

The Arafura Games began as the Arafura Sports Festival in 1991 with 1,500 athletes competing in seven sports. From 1998 it was known as the Arafura Games and was held every two years.The Arafura Games was a well-developed, International multi-sport event that attracted participants from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, with the 2011 Games attracting 2,200visiting athletes. The Games fostered goodwill between sporting neighbours and shared sporting and cultural knowledge within the Asia-Pacific region. Significantly, the Arafura Games also provided the Northern Territory sporting organisations with the opportunity to develop facilities, coaches, officials as well as athletes.

Programming experience

• Sydney WorldPride 2023

• Sugarbag Festival 2022/23/24

• Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Welcome to Country 2020/21

• Opening party of the 2017 Yirramboi Festival

• Garrmalang Festival 2014/15

• Darwin Pride Festival 2012/2013 Producing experience

• 2016 to Present - Ilbijerri Theatre Company - Melbourne Victoria

• 2013 to 2015 - Darwin Entertainment Centre - Darwin NT

• 2010 to Present - Independent Creative Producer - National International Delegations

• 2017 - ISPA (International Society of Performing Arts) Fellowship: USA/International

• 2016 - CINARS & Native Earth: Toronto/Montreal CANADA

• 2015 - Western Arts Alliance Conference: Vancouver CANADA

• 2014 - CINARS & Native Earth: Toronto/Montreal CANADA

Acting Credits

• 2023 - Miss Information NITV/SBS

• 2019 - Dubbo: Life of a Song man

• 2016 to Present - TV hosting NITV/SBS

• 2015 - Feature Film SPEAR

Awards

• 2024 - Northern Territoryfinalist: Australian of the Year

• 2019 - Darwin Pride Awards - First Nation Person of The Year

• 2019 - LGBTI Australia Awards - Artists of the Year

• 2014 - NT NAIDOC Artist of the Year

Other Employment

• QANTAS Airways - 2001 to 2007 - Sydney/Melbourne/London UK Role: Business and First Class flight attendant. Initial, Business and First class trainer