WHO WE ARE
KAZ THERESE
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Kaz Therese (them/they) lives on Gadigal Land and grew up on Darug Land in Mt Druitt, they are queer, Hungarian/Australian. Kaz is the founder of WEREWOLF, they are an award-winning theatre maker and interdisciplinary artist with a practice grounded in performance, visual arts, activism and community building.
In 2023 Kaz was supported by the Creative Australia to research transformative matriarchal leadership practices in arts and culture collaborating with In Between Time (Bristol) and Kolkata Centre for Creativity (India).
In 2022 Kaz presented the world premiere of their solo work “SLEEPLESSNESS” commissioned and presented by Carriageworks and Parramatta Riverside. Kaz directed and co-wrote ACTION STAR with Maria Tran, premiered at OZASIA FESTIVAL 2022. From 2013-2020 they were Artistic Director of PYT Fairfield and Founder of FUNPARK, Mt Druitt, establishing a dynamic new arts program and practice for the Western Sydney region. Kaz directed the Helpmann nominated PLAYLIST presented in Festival UnWrapped at the Sydney Opera House (2019). Other works for PYT include JUMP FIRST ASK LATER (Sydney Opera House, National Tour, Helpmann and Australian Dance Award) TRIBUNAL presented at PYT Fairfield, Griffin Theatre, Museum of Contemporary Art, ArtsHouse Melbourne, Sydney Opera House and Carriageworks, 2018 Sydney Festival; WOMEN OF FAIRFIELD in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art’s C3West program, which won the FBiSMAC Award for Best Arts Program (2016) FUNPARK (Sydney Festival 2014) and WOMEN OF PARRAMATTA, Sydney Biennale, NIRIN. Kaz is a Fellow of the Creative Australia’s Arts Leaders program and is currently Lead Programmer of Public Programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Australia. Kaz was Lead Programmer Public Programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, 2024.
AUNTY RHONDA DIXON
FIRST NATIONS CULTURAL LEADER
Aunty Rhonda Dixon-Grovenor is a Gadigal/ Bidgigal Elder and has been employed as a professional performer and Cultural Arts Educator within the Education system for corporate bodies, Cultural Festivals and other organisations such as Remand Centres and Correctional Centres. At 17 years of age Rhonda Dixon-Grovenor was singing alongside Jimmy Little and has since performed with Youthu Yindi, Kev Carmody, Paul Kelly, Archie Roach, Black Fire and Tiddas. In the past seven years Rhonda Dixon-Grovenor has been an active participant as a writer/director, researcher and actor in plays such as: TRIBUNAL produced by PYT Fairfield and performed at the Sydney Opera House, Carriageworks and Museum of Contemporary Art and POSTS IN THE PADDOCK, which was performed at Carriageworks and a short documentary about the play was shown on Message Stick. Rhonda Dixon Grovenor has a Diploma In Music Centre for studies in Aboriginal Music and 1year scholarship at (UCLA) University of California Los Angeles studying Ethno- musicology, a Cert IV in Workplace and Training Assessment, a Masters Aboriginal Studies (Social and Emotional Wellbeing) and is currently a board member of Weave (formally South Sydney Youth Service) and Moogahlin Aboriginal Theatre. Rhonda Dixon-Grovenor’s mission in life is to live (not as a good woman) but as a powerful, passionate, and outspoken woman and to share her knowledge and skills to educate and empower others.
FIONA MAXWELL
STRATEGY & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Fiona’s career has spanned the non-profit, government and university sectors in Australia and the USA. Fiona is currently Executive Director, Queensland for FareShare, Australia’s largest charity kitchen, cooking 1 million meals for people who are food insecure every year. She is also Acting Chair of DVConnect, statewide domestic violence crisis service. Fiona was the CEO of Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane’s creative precinct, home to a dynamic program of arts, events, markets and great dining experiences for 6 years. She spearheaded the precinct masterplan, setting the organisation up for the future growth of the region. Fiona was Queensland Manager for Philanthropy Australia, establishing the Brisbane office and supporting philanthropists and non-profits alike to grow the sector. Fiona’s role as Queensland Manager, Artsupport Australia encompassed growing cultural philanthropy – working with local philanthropists, advisors and intermediaries – as well as supporting the non-profit sector to build stronger and more sustainable relationships with its supporters. Prior to this role, Fiona was Executive Director of the Next Wave Festival. She has been Chair and board member of organisations including industry service and peak bodies, internet start-up and philanthropic grant-making committees. These include Women & Change, Queensland women’s giving circle, the Lord Mayor’s Creative Advisory Board for Brisbane City Council and the being a judge for the Sidney Myer. Performing Arts Awards. Fiona holds a Bachelor of Arts from QUT, a Masters from the University of New South Wales and recently completed the Executive Program for Non- profit Leaders at Stanford University. She is a fellow of the Australia Council Arts Leaders Program.
CHRISTIE YIP
DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER
Christie Yip is a social/digital media producer based in Sydney (Gadigal), with a keen interest in performing arts and East Asian pop culture. She gained a Bachelor of Arts Management from the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). She is completing her Graduate Certificate in Design at the University of New South Wales, focusing on digital and immersive design. Christie has worked at Sydney Opera House, Propel Youth Art WA, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. She has worked with or consulted for Global Medical Foundation Australia and the Children Medical Research Institute.
PARTNERS
Audiocraft is Australia’s leading podcast production company known for their highly crafted storytelling, immersive sound design and creative approach to the audio format. Their award-winning team are experienced in producing long form narratives, crafted interview formats, audio fiction, and immersive audio experiences that spark wonder, foster empathy and inspire listeners to think about the world in new ways.
Fuelled by curiosity, compassion, and a commitment to high quality sound, Audiocraft have produced series for commissioners including Audible, Spotify and SBS, and have partnered with arts and cultural institutions including the Sydney Opera House, AGNSW (Art Gallery of NSW), the Australian Museum and MAAS (Museum of Arts & Applied Science).
Othelia is a culture research lab founded in 2019 by a team of creatives including writers, directors, dramaturgs, designers, cultural producers, academics, inventors, and data strategists passionate about developing human ways of thinking about our technological future.
Co-founder Kate Armstrong-Smith brings over 15 years of hands-on experience, specializing in dynamic content development and media asset management for diverse platforms like festivals, TV, AR/VR films, and live events. Her illustrious production credits include names like ABC, Sydney Festival, TEDxSydney, Belvoir Theatre, and Amazon Studios. Kate's expertise extends to advising traditional distributors on intricate story world designs and collaborating with new media and gaming sectors on interactive narratives.
In Between Time is a working-class, female-led live art producer based in Bristol and the South West, with an international network and reach. Since 2001, we have been bringing people, partners, and places together through festivals and remarkable artworks and events, to connect, think, reflect, take action, dream and to do things together that they have not yet imagined. An IBT artwork is a night walk led by teenagers; a bridge of fog; a cave of local women’s voices; a forest of people; a single glass kiss. Our vision is of a socially just and environmentally stable world, rooted in wild creativity. We believe live art holds the power to change the world, through radical connection and communication.
The Bridging Culture and Art Foundation (B-CAF) is a non-profit organization committed to advancing artistic expression, nurturing innovation and experimentation in arts and conducting preservation & restoration of art, historical and cultural heritage. We forge connections between artists, remote communities, and the urban population with the goal to cultivate opportunities that create livelihood, revitalize and preserve art and culture.
We work with folk and tribal art communities through capacity-building programs for generating sustainable livelihoods via traditional art practices. Our remarkable collection of Jadu Patua paintings, with captivating tribal narratives, graces museums and cultural institutions worldwide. We bridge societal divides, celebrating human diversity among artists by curating contemporary art exhibitions, fostering meaningful dialogues and hosting impactful seminars. Amid Kolkata’s architectural wonders, we facilitate for artists to collaborate to explore new artistic avenues. We lead meticulous projects dedicated to preserving, researching, documenting and archiving diverse art and heritage treasures. Our offerings include engaging Cultural Tours, Folk Art and Art Appreciation sessions to promote cultural heritage and increase arts awareness.
In Between Time is a working-class, female-led live art producer based in Bristol and the South West, with an international network and reach. Since 2001, we have been bringing people, partners, and places together through festivals and remarkable artworks and events, to connect, think, reflect, take action, dream and to do things together that they have not yet imagined. An IBT artwork is a night walk led by teenagers; a bridge of fog; a cave of local women’s voices; a forest of people; a single glass kiss. Our vision is of a socially just and environmentally stable world, rooted in wild creativity. We believe live art holds the power to change the world, through radical connection and communication.