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Career Profiles
Working on international arts events, festivals, music, and cultural policy has taken me from leading community choirs and programming music for national radio, to World Expo in Japan, major stadium events in Qatar, arts advocacy and TV producing in Mongolia, then back to the wilds of Adelaide, where I have worked on most of our major festivals. I have also held senior roles with Musica Viva in Sydney, Arts South Australia, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and as the inaugural director of Adelaide UNESCO City of Music.
I am a generalist rather than a specialist and my study path reflects that. I completed a Bachelor of Arts (Cultural Studies) incorporating music subjects, followed by Honours in Ethnomusicology at the University of Adelaide. I maintain that a broad-based education is an extremely valuable foundation for working in the cultural sector. You do not need to know everything, but being fundamentally curious and thinking critically is an enormous asset.
While I was studying, volunteering at festivals was a way to earn my entry, get experience, and build networks in the festival world. I volunteered in all kinds of roles, from box office to assisting stage managers. The Adelaide Festival was still biennial back then and in the off year I committed myself to volunteering in their office in order to get real arts admin experience rather than just the festival buzz.
For several years, I had short-term contracts for a range of events and organisations. It was flexible and exciting work; it took me around the world and laid the foundation for ongoing and consistent employment. Fundamentally, my career has been defined by the relationships and connections formed at every stage no matter the task. Understanding and valuing all the interconnected aspects of festivals and cultural events – from rubbish collection to artistic direction – is the basis for being a great producer.
Pronouns: She/Her
Content supplied by: Sarah Bleby
Edited for clarity by: Dahlia Opala
Photography by: Thomas McCammon
There are so many incredibly inspiring professionals working in the South Australian festival and events sector. If you would like to nominate someone or yourself for a career profile, please reach out via the form below.
