What are artform advisory boards?
Create NSW welcomes the contribution of Artform Advisory Boards in NSW.
Artform Advisory Boards members are leading arts and cultural practitioners. They include professional artists, producers, business managers and independent company leaders.
The purpose of the boards is to:
- assess applications made to the Arts and Cultural Funding Program and provide recommendations
- advise the Minister on strategic directions for the sector.
The boards help promote a transparent and streamlined funding process for NSW-based professional artists, practitioners and organisations.
Who are the 2023-24 Artform Advisory Board members?
Find out who is on each board, including the chair and members, their role, experience and contribution to the arts.
Aboriginal Arts and Culture Board
Chair
Jamie-Lea Trindall – Executive Director of Outback Arts and Freelance Curator with over a decade of experience in arts & cultural strategy and project delivery in remote communities of far western NSW. A Wiradjuri woman Jamie-Lea is recognised as one of the leading contemporary artists in Western NSW and a founding member of the Aboriginal Regional Arts Alliance.
Members
- Rachel (Rei) Cheetham – Rei is a Euahlayi woman from North West NSW. She has worked in art administration for 20 years all over NSW, including 2 Rivers based in Tamworth. The Australia Council for the Arts, Bluesfest, The Octapod and This is Not Art Festival.
- Jannali Jones – Award-winning writer, editor and lawyer; her fiction and non-fiction prose, poetry and screenwriting has been published in Australia and overseas. Jannali also works for the ABC.
- David Leha – Musician and singer, known professionally as Radical Son and respected community leader and music facilitator.
- Alison Murphy-Oates – Ngiyampaa Wailwan person. Ali is the Producer for First Nations programming at Sydney Festival and was previously the Managing Director of Moogahlin Performing Arts. They have over a decade of arts management, producing, and policy experience.
- Aiesha Saunders has worked within the communications and cultural sector for over a decade as a First Nations journalist, project manager, producer, educator, researcher, consultant, and curator. Her work is community and culture focused with truth-telling and self-determined advocacy at the core.
- Nardi Simpson – A Yuwaalaraay writer, musician, composer and educator from North West NSW freshwater plains. A founding member of Indigenous folk duo Stiff Gins, Nardi has been performing nationally and internationally for 20 years. Nardi works with student ensembles and directs cross-cultural choir Barayagal at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and is currently undertaking a PhD with the ANU School of Music. She was the 2022 UTS Copyright Agency Writer in Residence Award and her debut novel, Song of the Crocodile was 2018 winner of a black&write! writing fellowship.
Classical Music, Opera and Choral Board
Chair
Brett Weymark OAM – Artistic and Music Director, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Brett is one of Australia’s foremost choral conductors. He has conducted the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and various orchestras throughout Australia and internationally. In 2021, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the performing arts through music.
Members
- David Boyce – General Manager of Omega Ensemble since 2019. David has held management roles in marketing and producing across classical music, theatre and visual arts, including the commercial and not-for profit sectors. He holds a Bachelor of Music (Composition, Hons. Class 1) from Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
- Cressida Griffith – Cressida Griffith – Co-General Manager of Pinchgut Opera. Cressida has held roles at the London Symphony Orchestra, Victorian Opera and Orchestra Victoria and started her career as a cellist. Cressida has a BMus (cello) and BA from the University of Melbourne and Master of Arts Management.
- Lindy Hume (PhD) – has served as Artistic Director of Sydney and Perth Festivals, Tasmania’s Ten Days on the Island and Four Winds Festival; West Australian Opera, Victorian Opera, OzOpera, Opera Queensland, and Opera Australia’s Sydney Summer Season 2024. As a stage director she has created productions in Australia, NZ, the US, Europe and UK. In 2021 was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) significant service to the performing arts.
- Simon Moore OAM – Presenter and producer at 2MBS Fine Music Sydney. Formerly Director and Chair, Music Broadcasting Society of NSW.
- Dr John Peterson – A well-known Australian composer. Dr Peterson has written chamber music for many ensembles including the Contemporary Singers, Sydney Mandolins, the Shostakovich String Quartet, Halcyon, and the Omega Ensemble, Sydney. He has had several works for orchestra performed and/or recorded by orchestras across Australia and New Zealand; and his choral music is frequently performed in Australia and in the United States.
- Jack Symonds – Artistic Director of Sydney Chamber Opera and established composer, conductor and accompanist. Jack continues to premiere new works, frequently conducting his own and others’ music.
Contemporary Music Board
Chair
John Oddy – Legal Counsel at the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) and holds a Masters in Intellectual Property Law. Former lawyer at Marque Lawyers working in dispute resolution and specialising in copyright and former volunteer at Arts Law Centre of Australia. John is passionate about the music industry and is an independent musician, having played and recorded in several bands for decades.
Members
- Geoff Bell – Owner of Laing Entertainment. Geoff is an entertainment agent, promoter, producer & programmer of contemporary and country music festivals and tours across Australia and Internationally.
- Morwenna Collett – Access consultant, leader and facilitator with direct professional experience of working in the arts, government, not for profit and university sectors as a CEO, senior manager, project manager, lecturer, trainer and advisor. Morwenna is particularly passionate about increasing accessibility within the music industry and recently completed a Churchill Fellowship.
- Zoe Hauptmann – Freelance Bassist and Artistic Director for The Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA), The Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival and formerly the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues.
- Maria Mitar – a music producer and co-founder of the Cultural Arts Collective, with a special focus on Western Sydney's vibrant multicultural communities. As a producer, curator, and events manager, she has held positions at Syd West Multicultural Services, Blacktown Arts Centre, Parramatta City Council, and Bondi Pavilion. In collaborations with FBI Radio, Music NSW, The Live Music Office and Create NSW, she has curated and presented music events and micro-festivals.
- Kaleena Smith – First Nations Development Coordinator at MusicNSW. Kaleena is a Wiradjuri/Yorta Yorta woman, and has worked, collaborated, and participated with the community locally, regionally, and nationally for over twenty years as a songwriter, performer and vocalist.
- Dan Zilber is an experienced artist manager, broadcaster, programmer, curator and record label A&R. He has held roles at FBi Radio, MTV, Future Classic and TikTok as well as consulting to events, festivals and government.
Dance and Physical Theatre Board
Chair
Bethwyn Serow – Strategist for the Performing Arts and Board Director of Shopfront Theatre. Bethwyn is former Executive Director of Australian Major Performing Arts Group (AMPAG) and prior to that she was Production Executive and Senior Policy Manager for the Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA).
Members
- Alice Cadwell – General Manager/Creative Producer at Spaghetti Circus and Festival Director for the National Circus Festival. Alice has over twenty years’ experience as a Production/Stage Manager and Creative Producer for circus arts companies including: Circus Oz, Circus Monoxide and international festivals.
- Richard Cilli – A contemporary dance artist and current Rehearsal Director of Sydney Dance Company. Richard has performed the work of renowned Australian and international choreographers and has danced for Sydney Dance Company, Rambert (UK), Chunky Move, Dancenorth, Lucy Guerin Inc., Australasian Dance Collective and K.Kvarnström & Co (Sweden). He has created works for Sydney Dance Company, The Australian Ballet, LINK Dance Company, and his own independent projects.
- Anni Davey – Artistic Director at Flying Fruit Circus. Anni spent more than twenty years’ working with Circus Oz as a performer, director and manager before moving to her current role at Flying Fruit Fly Circus in 2018. Anni served on the Board of Melbourne Fringe, including two years as Chair (2006-7), and was previously Chair of the Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Association (ACAPTA).
- Cadi McCarthy – actively engaged in dance as a professional dancer, choreographer, educator and director since 1996. She founded Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub in the NSW regional centre, Newcastle in 2014. Catapult is a ‘not for profit’ contemporary dance organisation for professional artists, emerging artists, young people and the community.
- Carl Sciberras – An independent choreographer, producer, performer, advisor and educator from Western Sydney. Carl is Co-Director, Founding Member and General Manager of Dance Makers Collective and a Creative Industries Specialist Business Advisor for Creative Plus Business. Carl is currently on the Cumberland Council Arts Advisory Committee and has held positions on other council and organisation boards such as Riverside Theatres.
- Jasmin Sheppard – A Tagalaka, Settler, Hungarian Chinese Contemporary dance artist and choreographer. Jasmin spent 12 years with Bangarra Dance Theatre, performing lead roles such as ‘Patyegarang’, choreographed ‘MACQ’ (touring Australia and Germany. She has choreographed and presented works at Yirramboi festival, Toronto’s ‘Fall For Dance North’ Festival, Sydney Festival, Araluen Arts Centre Darwin Festival and Sydney Dance Company.
Festivals Board
Chair
Noel Staunton –Chair of NIDA and Consulting Executive Producer at the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. Noel has experience as a freelance creative director, producer and consultant on large-scale productions and special events including the Sydney Opera House Renewal Project, G20 Commonwealth Cultural Program, The Ring Cycle in Adelaide and the Sydney Harbour Bridge 75th anniversary. Previous roles include Artistic Director of Brisbane Festival and Chief Executive of Sydney Dance Company Opera. and over twenty years as Technical Director at Opera Australia and the English National Opera.
Members
- Mary Jo Capps AM – Leadership Consultant, Mentor, Arts Recruitment. Mary Jo is also Chair of Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM), Chair of Peggy Glanville-Hicks Composers House Ltd; Non-Executive Director, Australian Arts and Digital Events. Recently vacated roles as Chair Australian Major Performing Arts Group; Chair, Advisory Board, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Melbourne; and former CEO Musica Viva Australia.
- Adam Deusien – Creative Director of the ENLIGHTEN Festival and Artistic Director at Lingua Franca, Bathurst, with interdisciplinary physical theatre experience of more than twelve years. Former Artistic Associate with Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre and Artistic Director of the Artstate – Bathurst Arts Program. Adam was 2016 recipient of a Create NSW Regional Arts Fellowship.
- Kerri Glasscock – CEO and Festival Director, Sydney Fringe Festival, Deputy Chair of Night Time Industries Association, Board Member PAC Australia. Kerri’s previous roles include founder and Director of the Old 505 Theatre and Venue 505, and curator for the small to medium independent theatres and live music venues.
- Chris Hanley OAM – Founder of Byron Writer’s Festival and Principal at First National Real Estate Byron Bay, Chris is passionate about books, ideas and words. He works with individuals and organisations as a business coach and is a mentor to start up festivals, event managers and fundraising professionals. He has sponsored many festivals and events and has been a volunteer for festivals all over the world.
- Bill Harris – experienced in production, programming, site activation, placemaking and producing, on events and with companies, including: Adelaide Festival of Arts, National Institute of Dramatic Art, Sydney Festival, Global Creatures, Australian National Maritime Museum, Barangaroo Delivery Authority and the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra).
- Chris Tooher – Executive Director/CEO of Sydney Festival and former General Manager, Bell Shakespeare Company. Chris’ previous roles include Producer at Sydney Opera House and CEO of Illawarra Performing Arts Centre.
Literature Board
Chair
Nicholas Pickard – Executive Director, Public Affairs and Government Relations at APRA AMCOS. He is a Board Member of the Australian Government's screen agency Screen Australia, board member and former Chair of the Australian Society of Authors, and a member of the NSW Government’s music festivals roundtable. Nicholas was the Director Corporate Affairs for Copyright Agency and is a former journalist, theatre director, critic and arts policy adviser to state and federal governments.
Members
- Ian David – Freelance screenwriter for Film Australia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Southern Star Group, HBO, Nine Network, Kennedy-Miller, TaylorMedia, Essential Viewing, Fremantle Media, TV1, PlayMaker and Cordell Jigsaw Productions. Ian is also Playwright at National Theatre Perth, Lecturer-Creative Writing at University of Sydney and Previously President of the Australian Writers’ Guild.
- Johanna Featherstone – Poet and Red Room Poetry founder, recent/former research associate with The University of Western Sydney and an honorary associate of The University of Sydney’s School of Letters Arts and Media. Johanna is a founding writer of the Chaser newspaper and is a poetry writing teacher in schools and correctional centres. Chair of Oranges & Sardines Foundation and board director with Belvoir Theatre and the Biennale of Sydney.
- Dr Fiona Kelly McGregor – Award-winning novelist, artist and critic who has published eight books, most recently Iris. McGregor lives and works in Redfern, on Gadigal country.
- Rosemarie Milsom – Founding Director of the Newcastle Writers Festival and Chair of Hunter Creative Alliance. She has been an award-winning print journalist, and broadcaster with the ABC.
- Peter Polites – An award-winning novelist who grew up, lives and works in Western Sydney. His latest novel is called God Forgets About the Poor and traces his mother’s migration story. Peter won the 2020 NSW Premier’s Multicultural Literary Award for his novel The Pillars, and in 2021 was the ACT Writer in Residence at UNSW Canberra. Peter has also worked in Community Services.
- Richard Walsh – He has written for both television and the stage and he is the author of nine books. Richard has been Managing Director of Angus & Robertson Publishers, Chief Executive of Australian Consolidated Press and is currently a commissioning publisher at Allen & Unwin. Richard was co-editor of OZ magazine in the 1960s and editor of Nation Review in the 1970s.
Multi-arts Board
Chair
Professor Ross Harley – Emeritus Professor and former Dean of UNSW Art & Design and Chair of the Sydney Culture Network. Ross is an award-winning artist, writer and educator whose career crosses the bounds of traditional and creative arts research. His video and sound work has been presented at the Pompidou Centre in Paris, New York MoMA, Ars Electronica in Austria, the Biennale of Sydney, and at the Sydney Opera House.
Members
- Josh Butt – Founder and Executive Producer of Audio Content Company Ampel and Comedy TV production company Humerus. Josh is an award-winning podcast and TV producer with over twenty years’ experience in comedy, audio, TV and media.
- David Francis – CEO at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music (Wollcon) and former Executive Director, Four Winds Concerts, which encompassed the Easter Festival. David’s managerial and directorial experience also includes the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Arts Council England.
- Andrew Gray – Executive Director at South East Arts. Andrew has extensive experience in the creative and cultural industries, including public programs at the National Film and Sound Archive, Museum of Australian Democracy and the Australian War Memorial.
- Anne Loxley – Executive Director, Arts & Cultural Exchange. Anne is an award-winning curator with previous experience as Senior Curator, C3West (MCA Australia). A former Sydney Morning Herald art critic, she has published numerous essays and presented at conferences nationally and internationally.
- John Waight – Head of First Peoples Programs at the National Art School and former Artists in the Black Coordinator at Arts Law Centre of Australia. John is from the Mangarayi people whose country is just outside Katherine. He is a curator and has previously curated the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards.
- Mouna Zaylah – Business and Engagement Manager (currently Acting Director) at Campbelltown Arts Centre. Previously she was Co-Director of the Arab Film Festival, Arts and Cultural Program Manager at Information and Cultural Exchange and held roles at UTP and Casula Powerhouse. Mouna is currently on the board of UTP and a member of the Western Parkland City Authority Arts and Culture Advisory Panel.
Museums & History Board
Chair
Julie Baird – Director of MALL (Museum Archives Libraries and Learning) for the City of Newcastle with past roles as Director of Newcastle Museum, Senior Curator at the National Motor Museum SA and curatorial roles in Canada. Julie is currently Vice President of Australian Museums and Art Galleries Association.
Members
- Brett Adlington – CEO of Museums & Galleries of NSW. Brett is former Director of Lismore Regional Gallery with previous curatorial roles at Gold Coast City Art Gallery (now HOTA), Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery (now Museum of Art and Culture yapang) and Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville.
- Dr Brian Lindsay – Chair of the Board of the NSW State Records NSW and Member of the NSW Heritage Council. Brian is a professional researcher and author.
- Tristan Sharp – Deputy Director of the Australian Classification Board and previously a Director at Kingfisher and Co Consultancy. Tristan has held leadership roles at Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Newcastle Art Gallery, Art Gallery of NSW, as well as AMP Capital and Westpac.
- Madeleine Scully – Community Services Manager, Wagga Wagga City Council. Madeleine has previously held roles as Regional Museum Officer and Museum Manager at the Museum of the Riverina in Wagga Wagga and is a current board member (Regional Advisory Committee) with Eastern Riverina Arts.
- Christine Yeats – President of the Federation of Australian Historical Societies, Senior Vice President at the Royal Australian Historical Society and former Treasurer, Australian Society of Archivists. Christine is the NSW Liaison Officer of the UNESCO Australian Memory of the World (AMOW) Committee and Chairs the AMOW Assessment Sub-Committee. Christine worked for the NSW State Archives for many years. She has expertise in archival research, archives management, record management and historical research
- Hayden Walsh – A proud Aboriginal man from Sydney and is First Nations Advisor at Sydney Living Museums, with over ten years’ experience across the education and not-for-profit sectors, along with many years in the arts and museum space. Hayden is also the Founder and Director of ‘Think Successful’, a social enterprise that delivers life changing personal development programs to young people.
Theatre and Musical Theatre Board
Chair
Sarah Parsons – Creative Producer/CEO at Outback Theatre for Young People and Director on the Board of Regional Arts NSW. Previous positions include Workshop Manager at Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP), Educational Facilitator at Jigsaw Theatre Company, Lecturer and Tutor at Charles Sturt University.
Members
- David Berthold – Artistic Director in Residence, NIDA. David is a former Artistic Director of many significant organisations, including Brisbane Festival, La Boite Theatre Company, World Interplay Festival, Griffin Theatre Company and Australian Theatre for Young People. He is also a former Associate Director of Sydney Theatre Company and has directed for most major Australian theatre companies as well as in London and Berlin.
- Dan Graham – Theatre Director and Disability Advocate with a particular interest in access support for neuro-diverse performing artists and Access Consultant at Brand X. He is ISPA Fellow for Australia 21/22, Fellow of the Australia Council’s Future Leaders Program. Dan holds positions as board director or community representative on a range of arts organisations and disability action groups.
- Suzanne Jones – CEO/Producer at Jones Theatrical Group (JTG), and No-Executive Director with Erth Physical & Visual Inc. Suzanne works both Nationally and Internationally as a Producer across live entertainment.
- Joanne Kee – Executive Producer of Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta. Joanne has expertise in creating, commissioning, presenting and touring professional work from Western Sydney, nationally and internationally.
- Daniel Potter – Director of Paper Jam Partners and Chair of Theatre Network New South Wales. Previously, Daniel was the Executive Director/CEO at Shopfront Arts and he has held roles at Belvoir, Merrigong Theatre and the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre.
- Marion Potts - Executive Producer/CEO of Performing Lines since 2017. Previously Director of Theatre at the Australia Council for the Arts, Marion has held leadership roles at Malthouse Theatre, Bell Shakespeare and Sydney Theatre Company. Marion was a founding members of Hothouse Theatre, has directed productions for many of Australia’s major theatre companies and held a number of board positions in the sector.
Visual Arts Board
Chair
Michelle Newton – Deputy Director at Artspace where she has co-commissioned and co-curated significant projects with artists and in partnership with leading international institutions. She has previously worked with Jilamara Arts & Crafts Association, Tiwi Islands and Jirrawun Arts, East Kimberley. She is currently Chair of Cementa, Inc. and a member of the Parramatta Artists’ Studios Advisory Group.
Members
- Blake Griffiths – Head of La Perouse Museum. Blake's previous roles include Manager, Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, JT Reid Outreach Coordinator & Programs Producer at the National Gallery of Australia. Blake is an artist and is also developing policy and collection management strategies for the forthcoming Baaka Cultural Centre, Wilcannia.
- Dr Lee-Anne Hall - Director of Wagga Wagga Art Gallery including the National Art Glass Gallery. Leanne has extensive management, curatorial and programming experience. Previous positions include Director, Penrith Regional Gallery, arts organisations in regional and metropolitan SA and NSW, and academic appointments in arts management (UTS) and Museum and Heritage Studies (USYD).
- Rachel Kent – Chief Executive Officer of Bundanon Trust, Rachel is an experienced arts leader, art historian and head curator with extensive experience working with international museums and cultural institutions. Prior to her appointment at Bundanon, Rachel was Chief Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Australia and has presented exhibitions in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the USA and Canada.
Michael Moran – Head of Curatorial & Collections at Murray Art Museum Albury. Michael is a curator with 20 years' experience in the cultural sector across government, not-for-profit, and philanthropic and environments. Previously Head of Exhibitions, Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation; Exhibition Services, MCA Australia; and Whitecube, London. Between 2005 and 2007, Michael was a Director of Firstdraft, Sydney.
Keith Munro – A proud Kamilaroi man, Keith Munro is Director, First Nations Art and Cultures at the Museum of Contemporary Art. He is a respected leader and advisor on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives, policy and programs. Keith has been with the MCA for more than ten years and has worked in audience programs and as a curator. Prior to his role at the MCA, Keith worked on various projects at the Powerhouse Museum, Australian Museum and during the Sydney Olympic Cultural Olympiad.
- Khaled Sabsabi – Acclaimed contemporary artist who has exhibited in over 90 solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally. Khaled genuinely believes in the power of art as a valuable and important tool to communicate with people and is inspired by what may define us as a society. He strives to make artwork that reflects human collectiveness, while questioning ideological principles and complexities of identity politics. Khaled was born in Tripoli, Lebanon and migrated to Australia as a child in 1976. He holds a Master of Arts from the University of New South Wales.