Andrew Batt-Rawden - Biography

Andrew Batt-Rawden (he/him) is an artist currently living in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. Following graduation from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music (composition), he established the new music collective Chronology Arts with Alex Pozniak. The collective was dedicated to supporting artistic and career development of composers and performers interested in new music, and the organisation commissioned hundreds of emerging composers at a time when there were few strong proponents for new voices. Andrew also directed and produced several festivals of art-music (Aurora Festival, Bellingen Music Festival, New Wave:Sound) and facilitated interdisciplinary collaborations during this period.

In addition to Andrew's career as an artist, he has extensive experience in arts administration, beginning at The Song Company as the Special Projects Manager, where Andrew worked in philanthropy, communication, data management, and producing roles for live concerts and recorded media. Andrew has also had experience working in administration for the Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School, Legs on the Wall, and Critical Path. He also has a background in publishing (Limelight Magazine).

Career highlights include being the inaugural Gallop House composer in residence, being a state finalist for Young Australian of the Year and creating/performing with director/choreographer Dean Walsh in various works. More recently, Andrew created music for the production of "Plant A Promise" by Henrietta Baird for the 2025 Sydney Festival.

Andrew is deeply interested in human nature, both the internal experience of it and in its relationality to environments. Andrew has worked artistically (as a composer, maker, performer or facilitator) in art-music, dance and contemporary performance including in diverse communities contexts. Andrew is passionate about fostering social cohesion by bringing together people of diverse backgrounds to demonstrate creative collaboration to audiences as well as other artists.

Andrew's practice has been profoundly influenced by training at the Sydney Conservatorium, pursuits in dance, and life experiences which have also led him to become a peer support counsellor for male survivors of child sex abuse with SAMSN (Survivors and Mates Support Network) and is consolidating his backgrounds in mental health, performing arts and directing/facilitating by undertaking a Masters in Therapeutic Arts Practice at MIECAT (Melbourne Institute of Experiential Creative Arts Therapy). 

Artists and mentors who have significantly influenced Andrew's practice include Matthew Hindson, Dean Walsh, Alex Pozniak, and Roland Peelman.

Andrew identifies with queer and neurodiverse-ability. He lives and works between the lands of the Widjabul people of the Bundjalung nation (Lismore) and the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation (Sydney).