Tracy Verdugo- Director

Tracy Verdugo is a multi talented artist and performer dedicated to teaching children to find their own unique gifts and have the confidence to shine.

After finding her own inner artist she immediately felt the compelling desire to pass the "magic" along to children. In the past five years she has given hundreds of children the tools to become self-confident, positive, artistic, resourceful, resilient and Kind to themselves and others.

As well as teaching the popular ArtzSpark programme to children after school, Tracy has held 5 solo exhibitions since 2000 and participated in numerous group shows including the " Artists of the Shoalhaven" exhibition which travelled to Fuzhou, China in 2003 and included such greats as Arthur Boyd and Samuel Elyard.

Tracy and business partner Rosana Nemet are currently working on a large scale programme which will see ArtzSpark Creativity Modules offered in Primary Schools across the State.

Tracy is also passionate about music and will be releasing her first full length CD with her band The Long Goodbyes in June 2006.

Marco Verdugo- Co-Director

Marco Verdugo has a life long passion for music and creative endeavour, which has seen him build his own State of the Art Recording Studio, release two EP's with a full length CD for The long Goodbyes due for release in June 2006, and mentor up and coming musicians through his business, Cantamar Studios.

With his wife Tracy (founder and director of ArtzSpark for Kids) he has a drive and determination to teach others to discover and use their gifts in a way which makes the world a better place for all.

2006 will see the Verdugo's embarking upon a massive fundraising drive to help La Escuela de Esperanza ( The School of Hope) in Tijuana, Mexico (Marco's hometown) to build their much needed highschool.

Rosana Nemet - Programme Development Manager

Rosana Nemet is an experienced teacher with a Bachelor of Education who has taught in a wide range of children's services and more recently schools. She recognises the life-long benefits of nurturing children's intrinsic ability to think and express themselves creatively from an early age. Rosana is also passionate about providing educational programmes that provide children with a sense of self and endless opportunities to unleash their creative potential, allowing them to view the world from many different perspectives. Throughout her teaching, Rosana allows her love and understanding of music, movement and visual arts to shape the experiences she shares with children. She recently co-authored Jamie Drury's latest book "Outdoor Kids" with her husband Roger. Many of her ideas for encouraging children to connect with nature and express their unique creative selves are incorporated in our ArtzSpark Programmes.

Scott Sheehan- Marketing Manager/media Liaison

Scott Sheehan's recent nomination for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts at the Shoalhaven Arts awards is a fitting accolade for this artist, filmmaker, entrepreneur and youth mentor.

Scott is a tireless worker for the Jervis Bay Arts Community, investing hundreds of hours as Festival Co-ordinator for the 2004 See Change Winter Arts Festival Aquablue Productions, AND joining us with enthusiasm and passion in further developing ArtzSpark For Kids.