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About Us
Honeybee Creative
(Established 2015)
We are a Not For Profit Company By Limited Guarantee ACN: 651942513
Creative Mentorship for Neurodiverse Art Lovers
Monday to Friday group and one-on-one sessions in
Music | Visual Arts | Theatre
Honeybee Creative is the Gympie Region’s Premiere Disability Arts Organisation.
We host a daily programme of capacity building music and creative arts workshops for those with varying abilities.
Project based, inclusive and hands-on, we engage through music, visual arts, theatre, performance and storytelling; achieving real world outcomes.
Our services include in-person and online one-on-one and group sessions.
Our online sessions are especially practical for people with mobility issues or who can’t make it out to the venue.
Our studio is within the beautiful grounds of the Honeybee Wellness Retreat in Kandanga. The venue is wheelchair accessible.
Our program is available to self managed and plan managed NDIS packages. There are lines applicable including Core Support.
Our fees are very reasonable. For example; You’ll find us coming in well below music tuition fees in any neuro-typical setting. Depending on needs; Our group sessions start at $35 p/h and one-on-one sessions start from $62 p/h.
Our Mission
Encourage . Enable . Empower
Music . Voice . Movement . Theatre . VISUAL ArtS . Video . PHOTOGRAPHY . Production
PROJECT BASED Skills Development
Goals:
- Develop and enhance self-esteem, social skills, leadership and communication abilities.
- Offer an alternative and creative form of independent expression.
- Encourage emotional self-expression, which can provide a meaningful outlet.
- To be motivational, and help increase learning whilst stimulating communication and interaction.
- Provide creative support that focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of the individual.
Outcomes:
- Enhances the emotional, mental and physical well-being of those participating.
- Positively affects self-esteem and the ability to communicate feelings and to make own decisions.
- Cognitive abilities are exercised and the group settings provides an opportunity for constructive healthy interaction with others.
- Participants learn and develop skills/gifts/talents.
- Opportunity to perform live and for video.
The Honeybee Creative Facilitators Team are:
Rachel Clancy (Tuesday – Wednesday) Specialising in visual art therapy and voice coaching, Rachel is a creative powerhouse with many years experience in community arts, production and live performance.
Stephan Beattie (Monday – Thursday) has over 20 years experience in live and studio music production, live performance, song writing, stage management, visual art and graphic design. BA Computer Based Design / 4 times highly commended in the QLD Music Awards
Kerry-Dee McDonald (Thursday) has a Degree in Social Work and Visual Art & Design and many years working in the therapeutic arts and theatre craft field (including 6 yrs at Playback Theatre)
Harrison Bell (Monday) Harry is a highly skilled audio and music professional with more than a decade of field experience, seeing almost every side of the music industry and an expert in the studio. Working with sound and collaborating with others is his passion.
Lisa Horton (Monday Online Yoga + available for one-on-one sessions) Lisa is a Physiotherapist, yoga teacher, musician, dancer, Pilates Instructor, and circus enthusiast. Lisa has been working with NDIS participants for the past two years and loves to work with people of all abilities and special talents. Lisa can help you to identify and achieve your goals around mobility, strength, balance, and movement in general. Lisa can also supply detailed NDIS reports to support your plan reviews and assist with a diverse range of equipment prescription. Check out Lisa’s website here – www.mondomoves.com
James Warner (Friday) Founder of Honeybee Creative programs, he has a passion to see challenged adults living life to the full, enjoying and finding themselves “outside the square” through creativity and performance. James is an educator, composer, performer, producer, and event manager. He has been work-shopping with adults with varying disabilities since 2012, has Certificate IV Training & Assessment, and over 40 years experience in the music industry. Cert 4 Training And Assessment
Honeybee Creative Mentoring Sessions
Monday : Music and Movement with Lisa and Harry. Music Creation and Yoga on Zoom from the comfort of your lounge room.
Tuesday : Art Day; hosted in The Hive (Our workshop space at Honeybee Wellness Resort Kandanga”, facilitated by Rachel Clancy.
Wednesday : Live at the Honeybee Creative Studio . Music creation, song writing and recording.
Thursday : “Honeybee Theatrical Thursday” Live at Honeybee Wellness Resort Kandanga. Theatre, Dance and Movement with Live Music facilitated by Kerry-Dee McDonald. Where the magic happens; this is the crucible where all of HBC’s live performances and video projects are developed.
Friday : Musicianship zoom conference with founder James Warner.
One-on-one and group creative mentoring sessions available every day.
Our facilitators are available for online and in-person one-on-one sessions for mentoring. Including music, song writing, production, theatre, visual arts & craft and graphic design.
Our fees are very reasonable. For example; You’ll find us coming in well below music tuition fees in any neuro-typical setting. Depending on needs; Our group sessions start at $35 p/h and one-on-one sessions start from $62 p/h. Contact us for details.
Our Story
Between 2015 and 2018 company founder James Warner began conducting music creation workshops in what was then Honeybee Farmstay in Kandanga. Initially with a few private clients, together they would develop a musical theatre show for public performance.
In 2019 we produced a puppet extravaganza performing it live at the Majestic Theatre Pomona.
In 2020, despite the pandemic, we released a CD of original songs that the Honeybee Crew wrote, recorded (mostly online from our home studio) and performed themselves, and staged our annual performance at Long Flat Hall.
In 2021 we wrote, recorded, played, experimented and built our strengths and eventually shared it with everyone at “Bee Creative Dayz”. A two day public event supported by Gympie council and RADF showcasing all-abilities empowerment through creativity.
In 2022 we were recognised nationally for our work winning the APRA Art Music Award for Excellence in Music Education. Refusing to rest on our laurels, we made videos for two of our self-produced songs.
In 2023 we moved to Honeybee Wellness Resort in Kandanga in the beautiful Mary Valley, retrofitted a farm shed as a recording studio and are continuing to champion all-abilities arts and creativity…
In 2024 having settled in to our studio we composed and recorded 36 songs, 5 videos, a colouring book, 100s of photographs and artworks proving beyond all doubt that our method works…
APRA Art Music Awards 2022
Winner ~ Excellence In Music Education
Judges Report
“A thoroughly deserved winner who has championed the creative development of people with disabilities in the Gympie, QLD region and beyond. Moving to working online during (Covid) lockdowns, Honeybee Creative hosted their song writing and music creation sessions successfully through online mediums. The facilitation work by the faculty to take the creative thoughts, desires and actions of neurologically diverse people and lay it out in a form that everyone can understand is commendable. It is great to have this type of program operating within a regional area and the project outcomes demonstrate why art and music is so valuable for the community”.