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In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, Outloud staff and artists are working from home. 

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR PROGRAM?   

RESPECT, our in-school project for boys under 12, teaching about domestic violence causes and prevention through songwriting and performance is moving online for the rest of the term. Our facilitators will continue to deliver the program using live streaming, video, and Google Classroom. We’re waiting to hear what Term 2 will bring, but are committed to delivering the program in whatever shape we can – either back in schools if they’re open, or continuing online if they are not.

STORIES OF STRENGTH, our oral-history project will also move online, working with Community Activities Lake Macquarrie to roll the program out digitally. Stay tuned for more information about how you could be part of this exciting new way of working.

OTHER PROJECTS – We’re currently working super hard behind the scenes to bring you an updated program. Some of our plans have had to be put on hold, but many will go ahead in a new, digital way! Keep an eye on our Facebook and in your inboxes for more information as we can release it. 

Despite our funny little gif above, we urge you to please take social distancing seriously. The more we can stay home, the fewer new cases of Coronavirus we’ll see. #allinthistogether

Tim Carroll has left the building! Our beloved Tim has retired after 28.5 years as the director of BYDS, and friend to so many of us here in Bankstown. Under Tim BYDS has initiated over 800 arts projects (which many of you have been involved with I’m sure), raised a generation of professional artists and helped shape Bankstown’s cultural landscape. Under our new name Outloud, we will carry on Tim’s hard work and epic legacy.

Our new director is Finn O’Branagáin, a Darwin native, who has travelled all the way from Berlin to take on the role. She has many years of experience in arts work and is also an incredible performer and performance writer. Her most recent roles have been Company Coordinator for playful media renegades pvi collective, and Co-Artistic Director of multi-form performing arts festival Crack-X.

Tim Carroll said of Finn, “It is such a thrill for me to be handing over to Finn O’Branagáin. Young, bright, enthusiastic and highly experienced – Finn has skills much in demand in Bankstown and surrounds and I wish her every success as Director of Outloud and the custodian of nearly thirty years of projects with community.” 

Our very own Chair of the board and break-dancer in another life – Khai Ngo said, “After an extensive search, we’re happy to welcome Finn O’Branagain as the Director of Outloud to continue the important legacy created by Tim Carroll and BYDS. We’re excited about this year’s program and look forward to the strong community support through this vital transition period for the organisation. “

2020 has lots in store for Outloud – continuing our wildly successful RESPECT program; Stories of Strength; exciting new collaborations with ATYP and the Story Factory; a new initiative with the Dulwich Centre for young Muslim people, and three brand new large projects to be revealed in the coming months. Get excited. 

In Finn’s own words, “I’m excited about stepping into this role, supporting artists and community members to make their voices heard. Tim has left big shoes to fill, but I look forward to being as embedded in the community. Our upcoming projects promise to be meaningful and impactful. I can’t wait for them to begin!”

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Dear People,

I’m watching the fig tree birds congregate in the tree outside my window whose view I have enjoyed for the last eight years, watching the changing skies, the cycle of leaves drying, falling and becoming soil – only then to spring green shoots and become vibrant again as summer approaches.

This reflection reminds me that all things pass and so my time running the arts and cultural program here at Outloud (formerly BYDS) also approaches its end.

Over the last 27 years, BYDS has initiated and executed over eight hundreds arts and cultural projects with the communities of Bankstown and surrounds. Over that time we helped develop scores of young artists from the area as well as provide a platform for thousands of young people to have their voices heard using high quality community arts.

Our work output has changed over the years, due to changing technology, shifting demography and new and urgent societal issues arising – but our reason for being here and doing what we do over all these years has stayed the same – we engage excellent, local artists and facilitators to transform our community’s ideas, aspirations and stories into engaging, thought provoking art that can be shared across platforms and is always of the highest quality.

It is with that in mind, we’d like to announce that BYDS has a new name.