About Tracey

Tracey at Volda, Norway 2017

Tracey at Nightcliff Beach, Darwin, NT, Australia 2017

Biography
Dr Tracey M Benson is an Australian based interdisciplinary artist, academic and researcher. A systems thinker and connector across sectors, her work focuses on issues related to belonging, place, wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour change. Walking has been central to her creative practice, exploring locative and augmented media tools to engage audiences to see their local places with fresh eyes. Her work has been extensively presented internationally in media arts festivals and exhibitions. With a passion for understanding different knowledge systems and engaging audiences, she often collaborates with Indigenous communities, historians and scientists. As part of her interest in integrated and holistic approaches, Tracey also is a trained Reiki practitioner specialising in remote Reiki and guided visualisation for holistic healing. She is also certified in ProSci Change Management and a Prince2 Practitioner.

Professional and community activities
Deleted: Tracey has been active in many media arts communities: a founder and board member of Women and Arts (WandA) 1995-1999, a board member of the Institute of Modern Art 1996-1999, in 2007, she co-founded the Dorkbot CBR and was a moderator on the internationally renowned new media list –empyre- from 2005-07. Since 2013, she has been a Trustee for Intercreate – an organisation focusing on the synergies between arts, science, technology and Indigenous knowledge for the purpose of exploring and responding to environmental challenges. Tracey is also the founder and director of Treecreate, a collaborative platform bringing together artists, scientists and knowledge keepers to work cooperatively on ideas to solve some of the ‘wicked problems’ of climate, culture and community.

Academic overview
In 2001 she received a Research MA from Queensland University of Technology, focusing on souvenirs, nostalgia and personal identity. In 2010 Tracey was awarded a PhD at The Australian National University, where her thesis explored online communities, activism and social networking tools. She has lectured at a number of universities in Australia, New Zealand and Norway and holds visiting research positions at the Institute of Applied Ecology | Centre for Creative and Cultural Researcher at University of Canberra and the More than Human Lab at Victoria University, Wellington, NZ. As an independent academic, Tracey has assessed a number of PhDs and is an advisor for PhDs in Australia, UK and USA and with TransArts Institute. She is listed as an expert with the Australian Academy of Science for her work on citizen engagement and behaviour change around energy and household sustainability.

Tracey is a personality of generousity; directed, cooperative, an artist of life, she changes where she lives. She combines a capacity to research her materials appropriately with a brilliantly original and controlled theatrical direction in realising them in performance in installation works. I recommend her and her work unreservedly. Paul Carter

Patreon
You can support Tracey’s interdisciplinary research on Patreon.

Social media links
Subscribe to Treecreate to keep up to date with news.
Connect with Tracey on LinkedIn
Follow @bytetime on Twitter
Follow @bytetime on Instagram
Follow @bytetime on Flickr
Friend/follow Tracey on Facebook
Like Tracey’s Facebook Page

Curriculum Vitæ

• Academic CV – Dr Tracey M Benson (Google Doc)
• CV 2 page (Google Doc)
• Artist profile (Google Doc)

Leadership

Leadership roles in artistic/cultural organisations:

• Founder TransArts Alliance (2016-)
• Trustee of the Intercreate Trust (2013-) based in New Zealand
• Board Director of Ethos Global Foundation (2015-2017)
• Co-founder of Dorkbot CBR (2007-2013)
• Moderator on the online community -empyre- (2003-2006)
• Board Member of the Institute of Modern Art (1997-2000)
• Co-founder of Women and Arts (WandA)(1994-1998)

A perpetual student, Tracey is currently undertaking a Research Masters of Applied Science in energy efficiency and sustainability behaviour  change.

Tracey provides freelance services through bytetime, a small company specialising in arts education, emerging media, behavioural insights, strategic communications and community engagement.

Travel is one of her great passions and Tracey writes about travel adventures at www.geokult.com with her partner and collaborator Martin Drury.

You can contact Tracey about consultancies, speaking gigs and workshops.

Affiliations:

• • Member, Group of Energy Efficiency Researchers (GEER)
  • Member,  International Association of Arts Critics
  • Member, Immersive Learning Research Network
  • Member, Nordic 5 Arts
  • Member, Canberra Contemporary Art Space
  • Member, Women Eco Arts Dialog