Council for the Arts welcomes new chair
The Australia Council for the Arts recently announced Elizabeth Walsh as it’s new Chair of the Dance Board.
Walsh is a respected figure across the arts in Australia and internationally. Her work and knowledge span the performing and visual arts, from small to medium size companies to major centres for the creative arts and multi-artform festivals.
She has been a key figure in the development of Australian programme content, which is both culturally relevant to audiences and pushes the boundaries of contemporary arts practice.
Walsh has just completed her term as Artistic Director of the festival Ten Days on the Island (2007, 2009 and 2011,) having been involved since its inception as Program Manager (2001) and Executive Producer (2002–2005).
She is also former Program Manager of the Sydney Festival (1994–1997) and Sydney Opera House Trust (1997–1999), Director of Footscray Community Arts Centre (1991–1994) and held various roles with the Flying Fruit Fly Circus (1983–1989), including that of producer, tour and company manager.
Walsh is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts School of Drama and has worked in a freelance capacity with companies and artists including Circus Oz, Adelaide Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Danceworks, Lyndal Jones and Anthony Steel and Associates.
She is currently an external artistic assessor for Creative New Zealand, a board member of Theatre Royal (Hobart), a member of the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals and a life member of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus.
As she prepares to take her new role, Walsh is also delighted to welcome Rosemary Hinde from Victoria as a new member of the board.
An independent creative producer who for more than 20 years has specialised in projects that connect Australian and Asian arts and artists, Hinde was also the inaugural Artistic Director of the Kenneth Myer Asian Theatre Series at Arts Centre Melbourne (2008-present.) There she established a biennial performing arts program and an Asian artist in-residence and development program.
Hinde was founder and director of Hirano Productions from 1994 through 2008, Australia’s first international agency to focus on touring and exchange with Asia. The company toured more than 100 productions throughout Asia as well as producing and co-producing inter-cultural co-productions that were presented at leading venues and festivals in Asia and Australia. The company also managed several exchange programs with Asian countries.
Prior to this intercultural calling Hinde worked in the performing arts sector in Tokyo, Japan. She toured extensively throughout Asia as the 1987 Mobil Fellow in Arts Administration. Plus, she was general manager of Danceworks from 1983 to 1985.
Hinde has been a peer adviser at the Australia Council on several occasions including for: the Dance Board, Going Global, Korea- Australia Connection and APAM 2010 and 2012.
For more information on Walsh or Hinde’s appointments visit www.australiacouncil.gov.au.
Photo: Elizabeth Walsh. Photo courtesy of Australia Council for the Arts.