The Team

Alongside his career as a music journalist and musician, Nick has created digital products, or consulted on the same, since the 90’s.

Nick led multiple key roles across a 12 years period with the international Consultancy Thoughtworks, where he was a Principal Consultant and also served on the leadership team for the Australian business.

Nick has been working as a double bass player in South Australia and Victoria for 40+ years, most recently with The Prayerbabies, The Harmaniax, Peter and the Wolves, Louisa Wise, Blue Note, The Martini Set and country/bluegrass stalwarts Family Farm. He averages about 50 gigs a year in Victoria.

Nick is part of the Midnight Assembly recording project. He writes and releases original material as Stepkid, which includes hip hop collaborations with local Melbourne rising star 01.Ekka.

 Martin Paten is widely respected as a key national figure in the Australian arts and cultural sectors, having built solid arts industry relationships across urban, regional and remote Australia, and internationally, for 30 years.

Martin delivered five resoundingly successful Castlemaine State Festival events from 2009 to 2017, establishing it unequivocally as Australia’s premier Regional Arts Festival, nationally and internationally.

Martin went to the Castlemaine State Festival following 10 years of senior management within the Arts and Culture Branch of the City of Melbourne, where he performed key roles managing their City Culture portfolio.

Martin was appointed to the role of Director and CEO, Footscray Community Arts Centre (FCAC) in 2017 where he led the organisation through significant business, structural and programming

change.

Martin left Footscray Community Arts Centre to take up the role of Manager Arts and Culture for the City of Greater Geelong in 2019, overseeing a $21M program, and further strengthening Geelong’s

reputation as a nationally significant cultural centre.

Martin launched an independent arts practice, Martin Paten & Co. in 2023, dedicated to assisting artists and organisations with bringing their creative ideas to life.