A little information about UPSTAGEING
The vision for UPSTAGEING was born from the ACT Ministerial Advisory Council for Ageing, which recognised the need for a bold, visible celebration of older people’s creativity and contribution to community life. The Council saw an opportunity to challenge ageist stereotypes and create a dedicated platform where older Canberrans could be centre stage – as artists, performers, storytellers and leaders.
The festival was made possible through pilot funding from the ACT Government, secured via a competitive open tender process. This investment reflects a shared commitment to positive ageing and to embedding the arts as a powerful tool for inclusion, wellbeing and social connection.
UPSTAGEING aims to celebrate creativity across the lifespan, amplify the voices and talents of older people, and foster intergenerational connection. The festival showcases diverse artistic expression – from music and theatre to visual arts, writing and community events – while prioritising accessibility and affordability. Most events are free or low cost, welcoming audiences of all ages. At its heart, UPSTAGEING demonstrates that creativity has no expiry date and that older people are vital contributors to Canberra’s cultural life.
Meet the UPSTAGEING Team
Ageing (COTA) ACT
COTA ACT is the driving force behind the UPSTAGEING Festival, championing creativity, connection and positive ageing across the Canberra community. As the peak body representing older Canberrans, COTA ACT brings its expertise in advocacy, community engagement and program delivery to curate a festival that celebrates the talents, stories and contributions of older people. UPSTAGEING reflects COTA ACT’s commitment to challenging ageism and creating inclusive spaces where older artists, performers and makers are visible and valued. Through partnerships, volunteer engagement and community collaboration, COTA ACT ensures the festival is accessible, affordable and welcoming to people of all ages.
Jenny Mobbs provides executive leadership and vision for UPSTAGEING as CEO of COTA ACT. She champions the festival as a powerful platform for positive ageing, advocacy and community connection. Jenny brings extensive experience in the community sector and a strong commitment to ensuring older Canberrans are visible, valued and heard. Under her leadership, UPSTAGEING reflects COTA ACT’s broader strategic priorities, strengthening partnerships across government, arts and community organisations. Jenny’s support ensures the festival not only celebrates creativity but also advances conversations about inclusion, participation and the important role older people play in Canberra’s social and cultural life.
COTA ACT CEO
Festival Manager
Kirsten Cross leads the UPSTAGEING Festival with a strong background in community development, education, events and program management. As Festival Manager, she provides strategic oversight, partnerships and governance, ensuring the festival aligns with COTA ACT’s vision of positive and creative ageing. Kirsten brings extensive experience in capacity building and volunteer engagement, fostering collaborations across the arts, community and ageing sectors. She is passionate about challenging ageism and creating platforms where older people’s talents and stories are celebrated. Her leadership ensures UPSTAGEING is inclusive, sustainable and impactful, positioning the festival as a vibrant and valued part of Canberra’s cultural calendar.
Dr Cathy Hope is a leading local arts and creative industries expert and practitioner. Over her career she has facilitated, designed and delivered hundreds of local arts-led initiatives, all of them oriented to improving wellbeing for community, the arts and place.
Cathy’s projects build workforce capability, test new models and create cross-sector and employment pathways for artists. High-level examples include the 2019 Haig Park Experiments, a national award-winning $1 million creative placemaking project engaging 230 artists and 100+ partners. As Project Lead, she delivered two of six ArtsACT-funded initiatives under the ACT Government’s Creative Recovery and Resilience Program (2021-2022), which supported the recovery of the ACT arts sector through diversification and innovation. In 2026, Cathy programmed Canberra’s first UPSTAGEING Creative Ageing festival, which produced 256 events at 66 venues and attracted 12,600 attendees including 1,600 creatives delivering events.
Cathy is lead researcher and co-author of Creative Canberra: An Environmental Report of the ACT Creative Industries (2023), the first comprehensive, evidence-based analysis of the Territory’s creative industries, delivered in partnership between the ACT Government and the University of Canberra. She has authored numerous arts and creative evaluation reports for government and industry, designing frameworks that measure cultural, social and wellbeing outcomes.
Cathy was Deputy Chair (2021-2024) and is now Chair of the ACT Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing (2024-2027).
Festival Programmer
Events Manager
Richard Vagi coordinates the operational delivery of UPSTAGEING, overseeing venues, logistics and event partnerships across the festival program. As Ageing ACT Events Manager, he brings broad events experience and a collaborative approach, working closely with artists, community groups and host venues to ensure smooth and welcoming experiences. Richard is committed to accessibility and audience engagement, helping to create spaces that are inclusive and age-friendly. His attention to detail and calm coordination underpin the festival’s success, ensuring that each performance, exhibition and community event reflects the spirit of creativity and connection at the heart of UPSTAGEING.
Danielle Cleary leads the digital presence for UPSTAGEING, building awareness and excitement through engaging social media storytelling. As Social Media Coordinator, she crafts content that highlights artists, behind-the-scenes moments and key festival events, ensuring the festival’s message reaches diverse audiences. Danielle combines creativity with strategic communication skills, translating the festival’s vision of positive ageing into compelling online campaigns. She works closely with the team to promote accessibility, encourage participation and foster community connection. Through vibrant imagery, artist profiles and timely updates, Danielle helps extend the festival’s reach and invites people of all ages to be part of UPSTAGEING.
Social Media Coordinator
The Seven Art Forms of UPSTAGEING
DANCE
Movement is a vital language for wellbeing and expression. This art form celebrates the incredible diversity of physical artistry and social connection. Dance encompasses the refined technique of Classical and fluid concepts of Contemporary, alongside the vibrant energy of Cultural dance traditions and the pure joy of Social dancing. It is the art of using the body to convey emotion, narrative, and rhythm.
FILM
Film is the ultimate storytelling medium, capturing fleeting moments and grand narratives through the power of the moving image. This art form spans concise Shorts, dramatic Fiction, insightful Documentary, and modern digital formats like Social Media creations. It is a powerful convergence of narrative, sound, visual composition, and technology used to illuminate the human experience.
LITERATURE
Literature is the art of the written and spoken word, a powerful tool for preserving memory, sparking imagination, and fostering intellectual connection. We celebrate all forms, including compelling Fiction, educational Non-fiction, lyrical Poetry, and the invaluable personal accounts captured in Oral History. It is the careful and creative use of language to build worlds and convey meaning.
MUSIC
Music is the heart of celebration and emotional connection, organized through sound, harmony, melody, and rhythm. This universal art form spans a wide spectrum of genres, from sophisticated Jazz and structured Classical to energetic Alternative/Independent, Cultural, Big Band, Choral, and heartfelt Folk sounds. It is the art of structured sound that moves the soul.
THEATRE
Theatre is the magic of the stage, bringing stories to life through the physical presence and voice of performers. This art form explores the ancient tradition of Storytelling, the dramatic force of full Plays, the lightness of Comedy, and the integrated appeal of Musical productions. It is a shared, live experience where human action and drama unfold.
VISUAL ARTS
Visual Arts showcases tangible creativity that translates experience into form. This diverse field encompasses traditional fine art like Art (painting and drawing), striking Photography, intricate Textiles, functional Ceramics, grand Sculpture, luminous Glass, and wearable Fashion. Visual arts allows us to interpret and recreate the world around us using materials and design principles.
EVERYTHING ELSE (including design, craft, and creative making)
This category celebrates the intersection of art and utility, innovation and tradition. It brings together the practical beauty of Design, the skill of Craft, and the inventive spirit of All Things Creative/Art/Maker. It is where problem-solving meets aesthetics, resulting in objects that are both meaningful and functional.
