Meet sparK
-
Angie Goto
she/her
Angie Goto is an Australian artist who has a unique interpretation of her surroundings through figurative and abstract art. She was born deaf, which gives her a different perspective on colour and images.
Angie studied Fine Art and Graphic Design in Newcastle and Sydney. Her return to painting was marked by her Tropfest film “Angie, ” which was a finalist in 2015. She had successful exhibitions in Sydney and abroad. She has been a finalist in various art prizes such as Ravenswood Art Prize, Paddington Art Prize, Fisher’s Ghost Art Prize, Michael Reid’s National Emerging Art Prize, and many others. These experiences have solidified her dedication to painting.
In addition to her art career, Angie works as an Artist Educator at The Museum of Contemporary Art and Powerhouse Museum, where she focuses on special projects for the deaf and hard of hearing audience. She also does freelance work at AGNSW, Hazelhurst Art Centre, and Campbelltown Art Centre.
-
Akala Newman
she/her
Akala Newman is a proud Wiradjuri and Gadigal woman, musician, interdisciplinary artist, performer, and community leader with a growing national presence.She is a founding member of sparK collective. She has worked across some of Australia’s leading arts institutions and has been featured in national media including SBS, NITV, Pedestrian TV, Happy Magazine, National Indigenous Times, Vice, and The Sydney Morning Herald—working to honour and share First Nations knowledge, creativity, and community-driven leadership in the arts.
Akala holds academic and leadership roles, including Lecturer and Student Coordinator at the National Art School, and as a creative at Intimate Scenes Australia, where she has contributed to landmark productions such as Whitefella Yella Tree (Griffin Theatre) and While the Men Are Away (Arcadia/SBS).
Akala is the founder of Gili Gatherings, a platform that centres First Peoples’ storytelling and performance. “Gili,” meaning to shine in Gadigal, inspires her event series that brings together firepit yarns, music, poetry, and dance. Her art producing practice is grounded in radical joy, decolonisation, and futurism, making dance floors, galleries, and community spaces places of celebration and reclamation.
-
Monty Hancock
they/them
Monty Hancock is a multi-disciplinary artist and educator working across Gadigal and Dharawal Country. Their socially engaged practice spans murals, illustration, embroidery, zines, video, performance, and installation, and is grounded in collaboration, community voice, and deep place-based research. Monty’s work often investigates the intersections of colonial infrastructure, water ecologies, queer identity, and community storytelling.
Monty’s recent works include Swamp City (2024) a zine biography of Gumbramorra Swamp and Marrickvilles’ history, and Water Work (2024) a research project, sculpture and audio tour about the flooded underground levels of Wollongong Art Gallery.
Monty’s facilitation and education experience is extensive, with programs delivered across institutions including the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA), Powerhouse Museum, Hazelhurst Arts Centre, Wollongong Art Gallery, and Inner West Council. They currently work on the MCA's Artful: Art and Dementia program, with a focus on accessibility, intergenerational engagement, and community connection.
-
Dr Vivienne Linsley (Studio Sensorium)
she/her
Dr. Vivienne Linsley is an interdisciplinary artist, educator, researcher, and senior producer who is a guest on Gadigal Country. She works at the intersection of live performance, participatory art, film, and body-based interactive technologies. Her art practice incorporates infrared, biofeedback, sonification, and audience participation, exploring how new technologies can amplify embodiment and create new modes of human connection.
Much of her passion and work is about collaboration, innovation, and supporting creative culture and communities. So it brings her great joy to have led grants and project applications that have won over 2.1 million dollars in funding, enriching arts and culture in this city over the last 6 years.
As an artist-educator, Dr. Linsley has worked at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, Australia (MCA), in the National Centre for Creative Learning since 2019. She engages with a broad and diverse range of participants, from infants as young as six months to elders, with a particular focus on autism-friendly, Deaf/hard-of-hearing, primary and secondary school, dementia, and mental health-focused audiences.
In addition to her role as an educator, Dr. Linsley is a seasoned producer with extensive experience in developing and presenting innovative multi-arts programs, along with securing both government grants and philanthropic support to sustain these initiatives. For four years, she was the senior producer at the Red Rattler Theatre, where she led the award-winning Future Communities Arts Program (fbi.radio SMAC of the Year Award for "Exceptional Cultural Contribution" in 2023) She is committed to creating spaces where artists and communities can come together to co-create, share knowledge, and define what it means to be human in today's rapidly evolving world.
Dr. Linsley holds a PhD in the arts from the University of Sydney, where she completed her thesis ‘Performer Process in the Live Act: Interactive Experiments in the Audience-Performer Relationship (2017)’. She was awarded the Australian Postgraduate Award, a scholarship that supported her doctoral studies. Graduating at age 27, her research explored the intersection of live performance, technology, and embodiment, with a particular focus on how interactive technologies can enhance the sensory experiences of both performers and audiences. Her artistic inquiry examined how body-based interactive technologies can open new avenues for communication, self-regulation, co-regulation, and social regulation, while also considering the rapidly evolving technological landscape and its implications for the present and future. As a performer she has worked for Marina Abramović and studied with Director Anne Bogart & SITI Company, New York.
-
Ross Symington (Studio Sensorium)
He/Him
“We weave authentic, human stories that expand minds, open hearts, and deepen perspectives. We collaborate with families, communities, and organisations to preserve wisdom and connection, stories not just to remember, but to live by. We are passionate about helping people preserve the wisdom of elders for their family and community- collecting and conserving stories that will enrich future generations.”
The process of creating a biography film is itself transformative.Taking the time to reflect, contextualize, and review key moments in our lives can offer profound insights and self-discovery. A motto studio sensorium uses is “trust the process.” Reflecting on the different chapters of our lives- our origins, pivotal moments, crossroads, family-building, career evolution and values helps us understand how shifts in history have shaped both our personal experiences and our ancestry. Also, this process can assist in clarifying the contributions we want to impart to future generations. Biography films hold immense value not only for the individual but also for the family and wider community. They provide a way to honor one’s heritage, offer a sense of lineage, and preserve key stories that can be shared across generations. Whether for children, grandchildren, extended family, or the public, a biography film is a powerful way to connect us to our roots, celebrates key moments in life, and illuminate historical influences. It’s a timeless gift that preserves important narratives for generations to come.
Studio Sensorium is founded by Dr Vivienne Linsley and Ross Symington, working at the intersection of art, biography, film, mental health, and social care. Through biography filmmaking, Studio Sensorium brings humanity, artistry, and innovation to the legacy-building process, helping individuals, families, and communities tell, preserve, and pass on their stories across generations.
Ross Symington draws from a multifaceted background, with storytelling at the heart of his practice. His work is rooted in the belief that storytelling is a powerful tool for human connection, and he is deeply passionate about helping others share their stories.
When he is not collaborating with remarkable, inspiring individuals and organisations, you can find him immersed in various creative endeavors. "I’m always excited to connect with others, collaborate, and see what new stories and opportunities we can create together."
Professionally, Symington is a documentary filmmaker, composer, and musician known as Ross Henry. Most recently his music composition was shown as part of Vivid on customs house with artist Del Kathryn Barton. He brings a wide array of creative expertise to his work. As an artist-educator, he runs arts programs with elderly communities focused on music and performance, always learning from their rich life experiences and contributing to their creative well-being. Ross is a palliative care biographer for The Sacred Heart Biography Service at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, Australia, where he helps individuals share their personal stories during some of the most meaningful and reflective times of their lives. In addition, he works as a disability support worker.
Facilitating others in sharing their own stories is not just a passion but a core belief in the power of human connection. In a time when it can feel like our sense of community is fragmented, divided, and often isolated, Symington is deeply committed to the idea that storytelling, whether personal or collective helps bridge these gaps, shares our core values, fosters a sense of belonging, and drives meaningful impact. It’s a way for us to come together as a community, despite the distance that may sometimes separate us.