RAV - Regional Arts Victoria - The peak body for regional arts activity in Victoria

Who we are! There have been a few changes around here...

No-one has been in hibernation this winter at RAV! We're doing more projects than ever and developing a series of new and exciting partnerships. To accomodate the growth, RAV has taken on new staff, as well maintaining some of their existing cohort. If you have any queries, please don't hesitate to contact us via: enquiry@rav.net.au, 03) 9644 1800, or freecall 1800 819 803.

We look forward to getting to know you!

Lindy Allen, Director and CEO, Regional Arts Victoria

From a stage performance background, Lindy Allen possesses extensive experience in arts management, particularly in regional areas. She has worked as Publicist, Director and later General Manager of the Festival of the Southern Ocean in Mallacoota. In 2001, she directed the Mildura Wentworth Arts Festival and in 2002 remained as Artistic Director whilst moving back to Melbourne to take up the position of Sponsorship Manager at Melbourne Theatre Company.

Lindy has served on a number of arts and cultural assessment panels, and prior to taking up her role at Regional Arts Victoria, she completed an Asialink Arts Management residency in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Sue Strano, Manager, Creative Communities Victoria

Susan Strano has worked for over 25 years as a performer, administrator, actors’ agent, director, venue, project and program manager and arts locum. Her arts management experience spans theatre, community arts, international cultural exchange, program management and film and television production. Sue has worked with small to medium sized performance companies, universities, local councils and festivals and with the Asialink Centre where she developed and managed cultural exchange programs between Australia and countries of Asia.

Kate Andrews, Reception

Kate Andrews grew up in a variety of towns around Victoria, seeing red plains, blue mountains, and many landscapes in between.

Kate studied writing at Victoria University and was involved with the student newspaper, which she co-edited in 1998. She was Publications Coordinator at the Student Village in 1999, and has volunteered for a variety of festivals around Victoria, getting to work briefly on radio, TV and in print. Kate has been working at Regional Arts Victoria since January 2007.

Emily Atkins, Program Coordinator, arts2Go

Emily has a Bachelor of Creative Arts / Bachelor of Teaching – University of Melbourne 2004 and is currently pursuing a Diploma of Arts Management at The University of Melbourne.

She has worked in a variety of roles spanning arts, education and administration. She has four years of teaching experience, and maintains her role as a casual drama coach. In March 2010 she was promoted to Program Coordinator, arts2GO, which has opened up a variety of new and exciting challenges!

David Baker, Marketing Officer, Arts Across Victoria

David Baker joined RAV at the beginning of 2010 in the role of Marketing Officer for the AAV touring program, fresh from a stint in marketing at the Australian National Academy of Music. He spent his early years in the area around Kyneton before moving to Melbourne to study Media & Communications. When not hard at work promoting AAV’s tours, he can be seen brewing pots of Earl Grey tea, warbling along to arias by Bizet and Bellini, or smelling bunches of fresh jonquils at the market.

Bob Burton, Logistics Coordinator, Arts Across Victoria

Bob has been involved in the Arts in Melbourne for the last 30 years. Fifteen years as a physical performer and 15 as an arts manager in a variety of roles at various times for the Fringe Festival, Moomba, Melbourne International Arts Festival, NICA and as an agent for physical theatre through his own company, Primate Productions.

Bob has organised tours around Australia and overseas for a number of performance companies and brings this wealth of experience and knowledge to his role at RAV.

Laura Cooney, Program Officer, Arts Across Victoria

With a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Monash University) and Musical Theatre Diploma from the National Theatre, Laura has toured throughout the world as a director, actor, dancer and singer. In 2003, Laura co-founded a theatre company for children that tours Australia, appearing in schools, theatres and festivals. Until recently, she has been exploring theatre in the UK, where she was Touring and Projects Manager for the Nuffield Theatre. Having grown up in Shepparton, she is passionate about theatre for regional communities.

Kane Forbes, Manager, Arts Across Victoria

Kane Forbes has long been involved with the performing arts. Qualified as an electrician and technician, Kane also possesses an arts degree from Massey University (NZ). He has landed leading roles in large scale musical productions, worked with experimental theatre/installation projects, performed original music for many years and is a prominent event designer and technician. Previously the Program Coordinator of AAV, Kane brings a wealth of experience to the role of Manager, AAV.

Ella McDonald, Program Officer, Creative Communities Victoria

Ella McDonald joined the Regional Arts Victoria team in early 2010. Prior to her time at RAV Ella worked as Arts Officer at the Melbourne University Student Union, implementing and assisting arts programs for local and international students. She also established and co-directs the Melbourne based theatre company Forty Forty Home which aims to promote and facilitate creative roles for women in independent theatre. In her spare time you can find Ella loitering around galleries, theatres and op-shops until she is asked politely to move on.

Maria O’Dwyer, Media and Membership Manager

Maria O’Dwyer has recently been appointed RAV’s Media and Membership Manager. Maria has worked in book publishing in both Australia and Europe in editorial and publicity roles, most recently at Melbourne University Publishing. She has also been involved in festival production and coordination, and has worked for organizations such as the Emerging Writers’ Festival, and the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Maria has a Masters degree in Medieval and Renaissance poetry, and in a former life worked as a university lecturer, tutor, and researcher at The University of Melbourne.

Leona Prue, Program Officer, arts2Go

Leona Prue has completed a Bachelor of Creative Arts Industries majoring in Music/Communication and a Diploma of Music Performance (Jazz). She is a singer and songwriter who has published a number of works written for television and film productions such as The Saddle Club and The Apprentices on SBS. In addition to her role as the arts2GO Program Officer, Leona is the lead vocalist for Melbourne pop/rock outfit Edyth and the Electric, and also works as a guest lecturer and consultant at Victoria University, a vocal teacher, writer and active volunteer for many festivals and events across Victoria..

Joe Toohey, Coordinator, Illuminated by Fire

Before coming to Regional Arts Victoria, Joe worked at Victoria University from 2006-09 as both a Sessional Tutor and Research Assistant. He has previously worked as a Youth Services Officer for Banyule City Council on the areas FReeZA Youth Music and Cultural Events Program and has been a volunteer in roles including presenter, producer and board member at Melbourne community media organisation SYN since 2007.

Jacky Smith, Development Manager

Jacky Smith has recently been appointed as Development Manager with RAV (3 days per week- Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays).

Jacky has a strong background in the Arts having worked in Adelaide as Marketing Manager for Australian Festival for Young People, aka Come Out and ASSITEJ. She most recently worked at Arts Projects Australia on the 2009 Australian Performing Arts Market and with Variety, the Children’s Charity.

Donna Jackson, Artistic Advisor

Donna Jackson has an unrivalled record of artistic direction of multi-sited state wide projects that are highly participatory and pro-actively inclusive of ‘unusual’ suspects.

In 2008/09 Donna directed, wrote and produced the theatre production Dust, following a two year artist-in-residence with The Asbestos Diseases Society of Victoria. In 2007, Donna was Artistic Director of the Isle of Plenty project for the Ten Days On The Island Festival in Tasmania, and in 2004 was Artistic Director for the National Regional Arts Conference Meeting Place at the Horsham Show Grounds.

Donna has been Artistic Director of Regional Arts Victoria state-wide projects since 1998. These projects have included …such fertile ground…; Bute Utes; and Fresh & Salty. Her work has received two Green Room Award nominations for Car Maintenance Explosives and Love (1996) and We Built this City (2006).

 

Regional Arts Development Officers (RADOs)

Kim Bennett, Swan Hill

Kim has been working as a RADO since April 2009. Prior to being an arts 'worker', Kim was an arts 'funder' and spent four years working for the Australia Council for the Arts as their Youth Theatre Officer and working in the Community Cultural Development Board.

Since moving back home to Victoria Kim has contracted with The Torch Project, Ilbijerri Theatre Company, as a fundraiser for arts companies including The Old Van and individual artists.

Verity Higgins, Ballarat

Verity Higgins has worked as an actor, director, project coordinator and lecturer in performing arts since graduating from VCA some 20 years ago. Her most recent project, a documentary film, At the Coalface, explores the role of arts in recovery and the experience of Arts Recovery Officer Marilyn Gourley after the Black Saturday fires. At the Coalface was launched in Alexandra on June 24th and will be presented at RAA’s conference Junction 2010 in August.

Deb Milligan, Wellington

From an early career in graphic design and health promotion, Deb Milligan has gained a wide range of experience in regional arts practice and community work. She was a founding member of both Arthouse Gippsland and The Big Gallery in Briagolong, was a Foothills Family Music committee member for 7 years, and a project manager for the Women who Mean Business community arts projects in Swifts Creek and Stratford. Deb is also a practicing visual artist and has recently established an art and design business with her partner creating sculptures, furniture, paintings and other gorgeous things.

Jo Grant, South West

Jo Grant graduated from RMIT University with a Bachelor of Photography in 1993; she has taught photography at TAFE and universities, and has worked as a commercial photographer, as well as for community-based projects. Jo has had solo and group exhibitions at the Centre for Contemporary Photography, State Library of Victoria, Australian Centre for the Moving Image amongst many others.

Marilyn Gourley, Murrindindi Arts Recovery Project Officer

Marilyn Gourley has previously worked as Regional Arts Project Officer with South West Arts, where her experience working with drought-affected communities and her own experience of living on the land, gave her particular insight into issues of isolation, depression and crisis. Prior to this she developed an art consultancy business to advise schools and regional galleries. Marilyn was Education Officer at the Shepparton Art Gallery for five years, and is a qualified secondary art teacher and curator. Marilyn is currently the Arts recovery project Officer working across the bushfire affected communities in the Murrindindi Shire.