The Australia Council for the Arts Chief Executive Officer Tony Grybowski today announced Lenine Bourke has been appointed Director, Community Partnerships.
Mr Grybowski said the Council had undertaken an extensive recruitment process and he was delighted Ms Bourke had accepted the challenge of leading one of the Council’s most diverse areas.
Lenine is joining the Council at an exciting time of change, as we work towards finalising our strategic plan and prepare for the roll out of our new grants program which will take effect next year, Mr Grybowski said.
She brings a wealth of experience to the Australia Council, having worked in the community arts and cultural development sector for about 13 years as an arts practitioner and an arts executive for a number of dynamic organisations.
Her career has spanned visual and performing arts, including producing and curating large-scale events, festivals, community arts programs, exhibitions, live arts as well as research and policy development.
Until recently she was the artistic director and chief executive officer of Contact Inc in Brisbane, a community cultural development organisation which brings together artists and people from diverse ages, cultures and backgrounds to collaborate on artistic projects.
Lenine’s previous roles include Executive Director at Young People and the Arts Australia, and Program Director at Speakout, where she established the inaugural arts and cultural programs in five indigenous communities in Central, South East and South West Queensland.
She has also worked with the homeless and substance affected young people in inner city Brisbane while at Brisbane City Council, in policy development for the Queensland Office of Youth Affairs and has produced Arts Queensland’s Ideas Festival.
Mr Grybowski said the Australia Council had recognised Ms Bourke’s talent in the community arts and cultural development sector by awarding her the inaugural Kirk Robson Award for leadership in 2006 and the Community Partnership Fellowship in 2013.
This is the first time Ms Bourke has worked for the Australia Council and she will start on 1 July.
Mr Grybowski thanked Dr David Sudmalis for his contribution as Acting Director, Community Partnerships and confirmed he would remain in that role until the end of June.
