MEDIA RELEASE 

More than 50 national and international arts and future leaders to take part in Australia Council program
Monday 21 February 2022 

The Australia Council has announced the 54 participants of its leadership programs that 
invest in emerging, mid-career and established creative practitioners both in Australia and across the Indo-Pacific.

The Arts Leaders, Future Leaders and International Leadership programs aim to connect participants to explore new ways of thinking and build skills and capacity across the creative and cultural industries

The programs will each take place over 12-months and involve three interconnected residentials either in-person, hybrid and/or digitally, with online learning moments in between. The model of the program will remain responsive to the COVID-19 situation.

The International component of the program is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), working closely with the Australia Council to advance cultural and creative leadership in the region and foster ongoing collaboration and exchange. 

Australia Council Director Industry Initiatives Adam McGowan said:

“In partnership with DFAT, we are thrilled to once again welcome participants from seven countries from across the Indo-Pacific to join the program, including India, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Vietnam and for the first time Samoa. 

We are also thrilled to extend the International Leadership Program to 14 participants from across the region, four more than in previous years, to connect and ideate on new models of leadership, environmental sustainability and our creative recovery. Building the capacity of the sector is critical to ensuring a thriving, sustainable sector as we look to the future.”

The 54 participants of the leadership program reflect a huge depth of experience, talent and diversity. We look forward to the conversations that will emerge as we tackle sustainability, ethical leadership and advocacy right across our region”. 

2022 Arts Leaders Program
Adam Wheeler, Tasdance/Assembly 197
Amy Curl, Sydney Improvised Music Association
Bethany Ashley-Ward, Carclew
Brett Adlington, Museums & Galleries of NSW
Christine Scoggin, Chamber of Arts and Culture WA
Danielle Kellie, Circa
Dunja	Rmandić, Art Gallery of Western Australia
Evelyn Corr, Overland Literary Journal
Grace	Vanilau, CACD Practitioner and Cultural Producer	 
Jessica White, University of SA and Independent Writer
Jose Da Silva, UNSW Galleries
Leanne de Souza, Nightlife Music
Mark Smith, MusicNT
Natalie Rose, Shopfront Arts Co-op
Nina Bonacci, ILBIJERRI Theatre Company
Riona Tindal, Independent Creative Deaf Arts Advocate	 
Ruth McMillan, Tangentyere Artists and Town Camp Designs
Sim Luttin, Art et al. and Arts Project Australia
Yolande Norris, ArtsACT
Zohar Spatz, La Boite Theatre

International Arts Leaders
Ace Le, Lân Tinh Foundation, VIETNAM
Cathy 	Lasam, Independent Artist Educator, PHILIPPINES
Eunike Nugroho, Indonesian Society of Botanical Artists (IDSBA), INDONESIA
Levina Wirawan, Independent Arts Manager and Producer, INDONESIA
Rashmi Dhanwani, The Art X Company, INDIA
Sakdiyah Ma'ruf, Our Voice Comedy for Change, INDONESIA
Tenma, The Casteless Collective, Madras Medai, INDIA
2022 Future Leaders Program 
AJ Lamarque, Comedian and Independent Producer	 
Andi Snelling, Independent Performer, Writer and Director	 
Andrew Clark, Big hART
Celia Coulthard, Adelaide Festival Centre
David	Ralph, Outer Urban Projects
Donna Woods, First Nations Media Australia and Independent Singer Songwriter
Eugenie Lee, Interdisciplinary Artist
Fiona Dorrell, NT Writers' Centre
Harley Mann, Na Djinang Circus and Circa Contemporary Circus
Ian Sinclair, Antidisciplinary Artist and Playwright
Joe Alexander, Music in Exile
Katina	Olsen, Independent Choreographer 
Kuichiang Kuiy, Independent Producer
Leah McIntosh, Liminal
Lewis Major, Lewis Major Projects
Mariam Arcilla, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art
Nadya Sinyutina, The National Gallery of Victoria
Ripley	Kavara, Independent Artist and Producer
Sarah 	Asumadu, Independent Writer and Community Engagement Worker
Vishnu Arunasalam, Agal Dance Company

International Future Leaders
Adriana Nordin Manan, Independent Writer, Playwright, Translator and Researcher, MALAYSIA
Andrew Kuliniasi, Knack Theatre and Studio Productions, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Nguyen Vu Xuan Ha, Chaosdowntown Cháo and A Sông, VIETNAM
Mac Andre Arboleda, Artists for Digital Rights Network, PHILIPPINES
Olisana Mariner, Onelook Studio, SAMOA
Titas Dutta, Birati Samuho Performers Collective, INDIA
Varsha Yeshwant Kumar, The One All Trust, INDIA

More details can be found on the Australia Council website. 

Media contact:   
Brianna Roberts, Media Manager  
Australia Council for the Arts  
Phone: (02) 9215 9030    
Mobile: 0498 123 541  
Email: b.roberts@creative.gov.au