February 8, 2016
Kirsten Butters, from Maidenwell, is a woman on a mission to revive the live music scene in regional communities.
Frustrated by having to travel more than three hours to hear a gig, Kirsten armed herself with a camera and captured regional concerts to promote home-grown talent and the live scene.
Her photographs led to her studying photo-imaging at TAFE.
They also formed the basis of the material used for a winning entry into the ABC’s Heywire competition.
Heywire provides an opportunity for young Australians in regional areas to express their opinions on radio, on the internet and to politicians in Canberra.
“By supporting her region, the community supported her and Kirsten’s photography was exhibited in Toowoomba. Kirsten’s journey to promote and support the regional live music scene was the material used for her winning ABC Heywire 2015 piece,” Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott said.
“I, too, believe cultural activities should not be reserved for our metropolitan stages and I commend Kirsten on her commitment to the arts in our regional communities.
“Heywire provides an excellent opportunity for young people aged 16-22, who live outside the big cities, to publicise and address issues affecting their community.”
Every February, Heywire winners from across Australia come together at the Heywire Regional Youth Summit in Canberra.
The summit culminates in a public forum in Parliament House during the first Parliamentary sitting week where participants pitch ideas to politicians, policy makers and funding bodies.
- External link: Kirsten Butter’s Heywire entry
Footnote: Mr Scott is recovering from a bout of Bell’s Palsy
