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Bec Cole
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Bec Cole
Bec Cole

On giving what you have and creating reciprocity

Bec Cole is a champion of change in community, access and creative practice, most recently as Executive Director and Co-CEO of Footscray Community Arts. She is the Chair of NETS Victoria which delivers extraordinary contemporary art, craft and design to regional Victoria and beyond.

Q
What are your earliest reflections on giving?
A

I grew up in Burnie, Tasmania, which was a place where a lot of industries just died out. In our family, giving to others was something we just did. It was a natural part of being. Our home was always filled with kids from the neighbourhood, mainly because my mum’s work was caring for children of all different ages, especially after school. There was always this feeling of warmth in our home and everyone in the neighbourhood knew that they’d be cared for as soon as they walked through our door. 

So, I grew up understanding that if people are struggling, you help them. I realised that it didn’t matter how much or how little you've got, if someone else needs something that you have, you should give it to them.

I've taken that idea through my entire life. This sense of generosity is inbuilt in me, and when others experience it for the first time, it can be quite weird for them. Especially when I've gone into communities where they've never really received any care or generosity.

It wasn’t until I was later in life that I was exposed to what it means to be Aboriginal. It was not something we ever talked about in our family. It wasn't until earlier this year that my mum and I had a real conversation about it. But what's interesting is that the things I observe in other First Nations cultures are the same as what I grew up with. Our way of being is so deeply tied to these concepts of kinship and connection. The fact that every kid would come to our house, it's like, if you don't realise that's who we are, it was always there. 

Q
What drives you to give?
A

My cousins and I have done a bit of work to try and understand our family connections, and it's the story of many people of my generation. The connection to culture was so heavily disrupted, particularly in Tasmania, and we're now rediscovering what it means for us.

I understand what my nan had to do to survive. I can't even imagine what it must feel like to hide parts of you so heavily; and that's always humming for me when I think about the generosity and reciprocity that I see in other communities of colour. It’s part of centring generosity in the work that I do. I understand that many people in these communities have experienced trauma, whether that's forced upon them or something on an individual level, and what they really need from me is that care, generosity and reciprocity. I believe my role in life is to create a platform and space for people who are experiencing this.

I've been extraordinarily privileged in many ways. I’ve worked in the arts for many years, and I was born with a brain that can take in a lot of information and then make it make sense, so that's what I do.  I was raised in a family that was really caring and I've always known that whatever happened, I would always have a safe place to go. Many people don't have that privilege.

I also have white-passing privilege for sure. I get to go to a lot of places that many others do not. And what drives me to give is that because parts of my life have been easier to traverse, I want to clear the path for others. And part of that giving is asking what resources I have available that they can use too?

Early in my career, I worked down at Wyndham City Council in the arts and culture team. In the 10 years I was there, it went from being a country town to one of the most culturally diverse communities in Victoria. I saw my role as giving things that could benefit other people to get what they wanted.

I'd get into a bit of trouble sometimes because I’d just give stuff away, but I was ok to carry the burden of figuring it out. And I think that's something that's unfolded across my life and career journey - that I'll take the burden of figuring it out.

Q
How do you give?
A

For me, it’s the idea that you give what is available to you. And what's available to me is often connections, information and resources. My giving is not always financial.

Most people, particularly in the arts, won't come through the front door because they don’t feel like they’re allowed, but they will come through the side window if you open it up. It's been my job to support them to traverse through those spaces in a way that feels good for them. And then they can take ownership over how they tell their own stories. That's how I can give to them.

I believe in being generous and creating reciprocity because the more that you give and the more that you talk about what drives you to give, the more you get back in ways that are really heart moving.

In terms of money, I’m a small giver but I tend to give to things that move my heart. I give what I can, and I always donate to the boards I sit on, because I feel like that's part of my responsibility as a board member. I wish all board members gave financially to the level that they can, but a lot of them don't.

And it's a real gap, particularly in arts because those small gifts can add up. If more people contribute, a lot of arts organisations that are really struggling, would have enough space to make some good decisions. And that's the thing with different levels of giving, the big change is often in mindset because it empowers people to give to the point where they can comfortably contribute.

Q
What have you learned from giving to date?
A

I've learned that your giving will be returned in weird and unexpected ways. There are people who I gave to 15 years ago, that gift is starting to roll around now. One thing that really sparks me, is seeing people whom I invested in doing really well. I don’t give expecting anything in return, because that's what the heart of generosity is. I'm giving because I want to.

It’s amazing how those extra resources, even if they’re small, can shift the dial for someone. And the real lesson is that although you might feel like it's not significant, it really is. Sometimes those small moments of giving, produce the most change. A hundred dollars can be the difference between saying yes or no to something. In parts of the arts sector, $5,000 is the difference between saying yes or no.

You need to decide what you can invest, and make sure that you are looking after yourself as well because you can't give to the level of exhaustion!

Q
What are your ambitions for giving into the future for Australia?
A

I think it is an interesting one. I'd really love to see giving become part of what people do. So that it’s just seen as part of life, because that’s how it was before we all got divided up, in the way that we have.

Back then, you would offer the care that you could because you are a part of the community. And now we've attached value to our giving rather than the value that we're generating in return for ourselves.

The whole point of giving is to generate care. That's what it's all about. And if you can generate care with what you have, that's awesome. I'd love it if the whole culture of giving was decoupled from this idea of status. That would be amazing.

Bec Cole

Is an executive leader, community engagement and business development specialist in operations, program management, community and cultural development spanning community non-profit, for-purpose, creative industry, public galleries, community arts and government settings.

Her most recent roles in the arts have included as Executive Director and Co-CEO of Footscray Community Arts, Director of Latrobe Regional Gallery and Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, and a variety of roles across arts and cultural development and public art at Monash City Council and Wyndham City Council.

Previous to her career in the arts, Bec worked in community mental health and the disability sector, championing change through research, innovative service design and direct program support as a psychologist and art therapist.

Bec is currently Chair of NETS Victoria and holds board roles at Next Wave and RANT Arts (Tasmania).

Bec is proudly palawa.

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She Gives acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.