Over the past 12+ years, I’ve navigated a dual career path: working as a multi-arts senior creative producer working inside councils, universities, and major institutions, while running independent artist-led spaces and programs and maintaining a continuous studio practice.
Operating inside both of these worlds is where my insights come from. I spent a decade working in organisations building creative hubs that try to make it easy for artists to express themselves, while simultaneously watching independent artists struggle to navigate these systems and understand what these systems need to keep functioning.
I realised that programs don't work from a lack of good intentions or visions, but a lack of fresh, relevant insight into the financial and operational pressures that each side faces. Through year-long commissioning programs, residencies, workshops, and professional development initiatives, I've tested what happens when you create an open and honest forum that leads with generosity to put all the information on the table.
The result is always higher-quality artistic outcomes that are meaningful for everyone involved, with clear intentions and shared outcomes that are measurable.
'Light with Hope' installation by Jenny Zhe Chang, developed through the Test Sites artist development program I delivered for City of Melbourne.
The experience I bring with me:
Testing Grounds: Program Director
I stepped in when an outdoor creative precinct needed to transform into a highly functional experimental artist hub that provided free infrastructure, equipment, educational resources and commissions. During my six year tenure I sat with over 100 artists, of all disciplines and levels of practice, annually to talk about how I could support their ambitions.
Science Gallery Melbourne : Curator
I developed the inaugural public programs framework that commissioned over twenty five projects in three years, built event audiences of 700+ people, while helping artists to navigate complex institutional systems, procedures and operational pressures, ensuring the art remained deeply audience-focused and the artist felt cared for.
Museums & Collections, University of Melbourne: Creative Producer
I curated the first three inaugural seasons of Mpavilion Parkville, commissioning over twenty-two new projects across installation and performance art, bridging the gap between academic institutions and contemporary creative practices, make for a student audience. I also worked across Grainger Museum and Buxton Contemporary, and worked within an Engagement team.
Arts House: Acting Senior Creative Producer
I stepped in to assist with the delivery of a festival program, producing 3 live-art projects with local and international artists, with a focus on artists who live with disabilities. I then consulted on the creation of a new gallery program, scoping a framework that balanced the realities of heritage venue with contemporary gallery standards.
Test Sites Development Program: City of Melbourne
I've worked with over 70 artists to develop new public art ideas with budgets of up to $50,000. I designed workshops, brought in targeted guest facilitators, and advised internal teams on overall program structure. By identifying critical gaps in artist knowledge, I helped shape their EOI questions and sat directly on their selection panels to ensure the program balanced high-quality artistic outcomes with accessible community impact.
Help Desk Program: Creative Victoria & Testing Grounds
I developed a frontline initiative in response to COVID lockdowns, helping over 100 artists navigate the rapidly shifting world with support from 4 producers. We collected data and insights about the common pain points that artists face in making a living and producing their work.
Artist in Residence (AiR) Program: Centre for Projection Art
I produced the centres flagship residency program that stepped eight new media artists from across Australia through making site-responsive festival work, with mentoring, masterclasses and production support. Delivered over ten months through continuous engagement, I gained insight into intensive long form development programs.
Foundations Artist Development Program: The Substation
After delivering a series of one day workshops at different venues I put together this program to address the gap between artists ambitions to work at scale and the realities of venue operations. Working with five artists to develop new ideas, the program ends with an industry event that is focused on establishing networks and dialogues with potential presenters.
"[very creative producer] has become instrumental in building audiences. His creative vision and understanding of community engagement have been pivotal in establishing new works as the cornerstone of our programs- Gallery Director, Melbourne