We are delighted to announce Michael Russell as the recipient of the 2024 Access Arts Achievement Award. Michael is a highly accomplished poet, performer, playwright, MC, and workshop facilitator who has been a trailblazer in fostering creativity and connection within the arts community.
Michael’s incredible journey includes over 20 years as a founding member and leader of the Brotherhood of the Wordless, a group of non-speaking writers and creatives. Through his leadership and facilitation of workshops, Michael has inspired countless individuals to explore and express their creativity.
The winning project, About a Boy, is a deeply moving multi-art form performance inspired by Michael’s poetry collection of the same name. This project will enable the script development of About a Boy in collaboration with dramaturg and playwright Ian Brown. Together, they will select and interpret poems from the collection to create a script that will be brought to life through a rehearsed reading featuring a group of performers.
This award acknowledges the profound impact of Michael’s work in enriching the arts landscape in Queensland and beyond.
Looking ahead, we are excited to see Michael continue his creative journey with the launch of About a Boy and his ongoing workshops. We can’t wait to share more updates as his work continues to inspire and bring meaningful change to the arts and broader community.
