Project Title 'Case Study'

Provocations on the role of the artist in the cultural life of the City.

Roles & Responsibilities

Curate three local artists to collaboratively respond to provocations regarding their role as artists in the cultural life of the City & present these outcomes at the 2019 Geelong Arts Centre & Deakin University Reflex Symposium

Associate Producer & Creative Consultant 2019

Roles & Responsibilities

(Contract Consultant)
Project Manager for Reflex - Ideas For The Future of Our Creative Community, a two day symposium presented by Geelong Arts Centre & Deakin University.

(Associate Producer)
Workshop with the Centre’s Executive Producer to discuss & draft initial strategies & ideas for the activation of Creative Engines new studios and shared working spaces at the Centre’s $38.5 million Ryrie Street Development.

Develop Expressions of Interest processes and documentation for programmes and artistic call outs

Draft original website copy to launch the Centre’s Creative Engine Artist Programme

Participate in artistic selection panel meetings and discussions for Reflex - Ideas For The Future of Our Creative Community symposium

Roles & Responsibilities

Building Strong Relationships

- Assess the successes and challenges of pervious Wearable Art Showcase events and to use this information to inform the strategy for logistical and creative planning.

- Work with the team to formulate, develop and implement the project’s artistic policy and objectives.

- Initiate creative dialogue and begin to develop strong working relationship with a focus on open dialogue and positive collaboration.

- Understand the strengths, experience and creative interests of each team member to understand how my overall leadership and creative vision can affect best and strongest outcome.

Creative Planning

- Work with the Production Manager, Community Dance Choreographers, Lighting and Set Designers, Wardrobe Managers and City of Mandurah representatives to formulate and finalise the broader outline and framework for story telling.

- Work in collaboration with key design contributors to workshop and approve all designs for the production, including scenery, costumes and lighting plot. Insure all design elements are working towards creating a unified and entertaining professional outcome.

- Manage the overall artistic vision to ensure flow and continuity of the creative production elements.

Design and Manage Critical Pathways

- Develop plans and identify critical pathways for successful delivery of the Showcase.

- Identify and support the preparation and management of project concepts, timelines, budgets and contracts.

- Solidify Rehearsal and Performance schedules.

- Manage project recruitment including supporting auditions and where required assist the City to negotiating contracts with contracted artists and collaborators.

Working with The Technical Team

- Consider advice from the technical team in relation to the creative and artistic delivery plans. Ensure compliance for technical requirements can be met and readjust creative plans to match deliverability of technical elements.

- Participate in lighting plot to assist the Lighting Designer to achieve best outcome.

- Ensure flow and continuity of the technical production elements by offering clear communication, translating artistic objectives into clear and tangible technical specifications.

Provide ongoing Artistic Direction and Support

- Generate ideas and concepts for artistic delivery in collaboration with broader artistic team.

- Consult with key stakeholders continue to translate artistic concepts and ideas into deliverable outcomes.

- Work across art forms - visual arts, theatre, music, dance & circus and in collaboration with artists, professional performers and community groups to develop artistic material.

Recognise and Nurture Talent

- Understand casting requirements.

- Develop strategy and planning for positive and inspiring audition experiences. Attend all auditions and follow up meetings to finalise the cast.

- Mentor & integrate different skills levels into projects from beginner to professional level and ensure professional outcomes are achieved and maintained.

Design and manage strong Communication Pathways

- Ensure regular and timely reporting on all relevant aspects of the project to the relevant departments and persons.

- Clearly translate creative ideas into tangible deliverables with strong processes for reporting and accountability.

- Provide brief weekly progress reports to the City.

- Communicate with a broad range of key stakeholders including reporting to management, managing internal meetings and liaising with cast members and garment artists.

Promoting the Positive Identity of the Wearable Art Mandurah Showcase

- Work within the framework of the City to promote strong outcome for event branding & project objectives.

Budget & Financial Reporting

- Successfully manage large-scale budgets.

- Participate in post event analysis and reporting; including for the completion of grant acquittals and financial reports.

- Participate in debrief and feedback opportunities with the City.

About the project

Six small Victorian towns including Birregurra each received $350,000 to undertake an ambitious two-year project to transform their communities as part of Small Town Transformations.

Armed with a vision of contemporary art and visual storytelling, the community of Birregurra embarked on a journey to transform its idle Mechanics Institute Hall from a shrinking violet into a thriving arts and cultural asset pulsing with energy and inventiveness.

enLIGHTen Me: I Have a Hall in my Heart is a transformational project that will re-frame the hall and other spaces as places of creative and connective possibility through a two year process of arts development.

Role: Oversight Committee Member (2016-2018) & Collaborating Artist

As a member of the committee, provide an oversight role for the governance of the project.

Provide support to the Project Managers

Participate in discussion, strategic development & decision making for:

Landscaping and building development

Arts development & community engagement

Project management

Technical production and performance elements

Collaborate with the Project Manager of Arts Development to:

- Source and procure talent

- Negotiate and draft artists contracts

- Monitor artistic planning & delivery

- Contribute direction and choreography to final performance outcomes

About the collective

Creative Behaviours Dance Collective, was a three year pilot programme that provided rehearsal space, support and mentorship for independent dancers to train, collaborate and drive the creation of new work. In a unique model of financial support I set up a photography and space hire facility at the iconic Docklands Cotton Mills in Footscray and this part-time photography bookings and other studio incomes generated the income to pay for the running costs of the collective.

Responsibilities

- Manage all marketing, press & publicity for both Creative Behaviours Studio Hire & Dance Collective

- Develop and manage websites (including booking and payment applications) & maintain social media platforms for Studio Hire & Dance Collective

- Facilitate company auditions and manage selection & recruitment

- Source professional development and performance opportunities for dance company members

- Mentor young and emerging dance artists; specifically towards developing skills for independent arts practice and maintaining peak physical, creative and cerebral fitness

- Develop and promote in-house creative development showings

- Support guest choreographers & teachers

- Provide mentorship and space for independent dance artists to developed their own choreographic work

About Riptide

The aim of the ensemble program is to expose and prepare local emerging performers and creatives to the professional realm of the performing arts. The ensemble works throughout the year to create original new performance pieces in a range of styles and spaces.

Roles & Responsibilities

- Set artistic direction for Riptide Contemporary Youth Performance Group.

- Secure a range of skills development and performance opportunities from leading, high profile national artists & companies.

- Identify, prepare and manage project concepts, budgets and contracts for company activities.

- Engage in strategic discussions regarding audience development, the centre’s youth ambassador scheme and the role of Riptide within these contexts.

- Deliver company workshops & performance projects as required.

- Provide choreographic mentorship as required.

- Liaise with Mandurah Performing Arts Centre (MPAC) marketing team to support project promotion and participant recruitment.

- Draft all funding applications.

- Ensure compliance with all funding and sponsorship agreements.

- Draft all funding acquittals and project reports.

Roles & Responsibilities

Co-ordinate the international tour for the postgraduate performance company, Verve 2009 including travel/accommodation requirements and venue liaison

Assist the university’s director and Verve company rehearsal director with the day-to-day management of the honours program


Progress the school’s dance initiatives within the university and wider community engagements
Assist in research and drafting of viability/strategic reports and funding applications as required


Successfully secured venue agreements for a full international touring schedule for Verve 2010 that included 21 small to medium size theatres. (Choreographic works presented by Laïla Diallo, Luis Lara Malvacías, Michael Schumacher, Kathinka Walter, David Zambrano)


Coordinated strategic discussions and research into the viability for the remounting of a professional performance season programmed into the university’s Riley Theatre.

Actions the curation of the professional program. Presenting companies included ACE dance and music, Tilted Productions, Retina Dance Company, Melanie Demers and Laila Dialo, Pheonix Dance Theatre, Collin Poole and Company Chameleon

About Stretch Arts & Cultural Festival

Celebrating Mandurah’s harvest of unique arts and cultural achievements to celebrate, share and inspire festival goers with unique and diverse art and cultural activities.

Throughout the two day festival, participants experience and enjoy performance, dance, music, visual arts, theatre and outdoor activities with events being delivered by renown and upcoming local , Australian and international companies and artists.

My roles & responsibilities

- Engage artists and arts workers within the local area and negotiated creative projects for development.

- Identify new sponsorship opportunities and drafted funding applications to state and federal departments.

- Manage the re-branding and development of the festival marketing strategy resulting in a 60% increase in attendance.

- Liaise with the City’s arts & cultural development officers and events management team to design and implement an annual four day arts and cultural festival.

- Curate and support a diverse range of visual arts and performance projects presented as part of the festival.

- Mentored artists, community workers and participants to ensure projects were successfully achieved on time and within budget.

- Program activities and entertainment over the festival weekend.

- Budget management including allocating and distributing funds to cover infrastructure, audio visual equipment, artist fees, security, entertainment and catering cost.

- Submitted budget reports and updates to the City’s Community Services CEO & Director.

- Ensure compliance with all funding and sponsorship agreements.

- Post event analysis and reporting; including completion of grant acquittals and financial reports.