The reference group, with oversight of the Community Partnerships Scoping Study, will be chaired by Anne Dunn. Ms Dunn is a former chair of the Community Cultural Development Board (CCDB) of the Australia Council, and has a career that spans 30 years in community arts and community cultural development.

Other members of the reference group are Marty Cunningham from Western Australia, a former member of the CCDB; Norm Horton from Queensland, coordinator of Feral Arts and co-secretary of the National Arts and Cultural Alliance; Adam Lewis from Victoria, a community interest representative on the Australia Council and a member of the Council’s Planning for the Future Taskforce; Ken Lloyd, secretary of Regional Arts Australia and CEO of Country Arts South Australia; and Gemma Pepper from Western Australia, an artist, activist, masters student and member of the National Arts and Cultural Alliance.

The aim of the scoping study is to propose to the Australia Council new strategies and programs to achieve the Council’s policy objectives for its new Community Partnerships section, including community cultural development.

The study will inform the development of strategies for stronger partnerships across all levels of government and community organisations. It will recommend practical partnerships to ensure the ongoing growth and vitality of Australian culture and the arts, particularly for arts in the community. The reference group plans to hold its first meeting in November.

Community Partnerships scoping study reference group

Anne Dunn, South Australia

Anne Dunn is chair of the reference group for the Community Partnerships Scoping Study for the Australia Council. Ms Dunn is a former chair of the Community Cultural Development Board (CCDB) of the Australia Council, and has a career that spans 30 years in community arts and community cultural development. Formerly CEO of Port Phillip Council in Victoria, Anne has a consulting practice in facilitation, mediation, community consultation and organisational development.

Her public service career in South Australia and the Northern Territory has included the positions of commissioner, Public Service Board; director-general of the Department of Local Government; and CEO of the departments of Arts and Cultural Heritage and Family and Community Services.

Marty Cunningham, Western Australia

Marty was a founding member of Bizircus and a core member of Kaos Theatre, performing in festivals and events nation-wide. As a community artsworker with Ran Dan Club he developed large-scale community celebrations. He has worked as a youth arts officer and community cultural development officer for the City of Rockingham and the Town of Victoria Park, where he facilitated numerous projects, festivals and events. As chair of Propelarts (formerly Youth Arts Network WA) from 2000-2003, he guided the organisation through its emergence into a fully operational entity.

Marty served as a panel member on the ArtsWA Arts Development Panel from 2001-2003, and is currently employed by the Department of Culture and the Arts in the Planning and Policy Division. He is a former member of the CCDB of the Australia Council.

Norm Horton, Queensland

Norm Horton is a coordinator of Feral Arts, a Brisbane-based community cultural development organisation. Over the last 10 years, Feral Arts has grown into one of the country’s leading CCD organisations. It is recognised for its long-term approach, investigating obstacles to cultural development for marginal communities in south Brisbane and north-west Queensland through visual arts, video and new media, and in the process developing new models for CCD practice. Norm is a co-secretary of the National Arts and Cultural Alliance.

Adam Lewis, Victoria

Adam Lewis was appointed as a community interest representative to the Australia Council in 2001, and reappointed in 2004. Currently managing partner of McKinsey & Company for Australia and New Zealand, he specialises in strategy and frontline performance improvements and has applied them in the banking, telecommunications, biotechnology, manufacturing and logistics sectors. Adam is a former member of the Melbourne International Film Festival Board.

Ken Lloyd, South Australia

Well known across regional Australia for his work in the arts, Ken Lloyd is Secretary of Regional Arts Australia (RAA) and CEO of Country Arts South Australia.  Ken has served as a director and secretary of RAA for 11 years and has been instrumental in positioning the organisation as the national peak body to advocate for regional arts. As a driver for change, he has been instrumental in policies and projects that have made a difference to the ways that the arts contribute to life in regional Australia. He is a former deputy director of the Art Gallery of SA, general manager of the Adelaide Festival, and general manager of The State Theatre Company of SA.

Gemma Pepper, Western Australia

Gemma Pepper was the recipient of a Young Leaders Award 2005 from the Australia Council for the Arts for significant achievement and visionary approach to social justice and cultural development within arts practice. Gemma, with the support of her host organisation Peace Links, worked with young people in Sierra Leone in drama and dance projects to create awareness in the community about HIV/AIDS and other major issues. As a result of Gemma’s work, Peace Links capacity to support creative projects in the community was increased. Gemma facilitated skills development, community engagement and cross-cultural exchanges during the production of Shishka–Car for the 2002 Adelaide festival. She is a masters student and member of the National Arts and Cultural Alliance.