Dr Donna Jackson
Donna Jackson has thirty years experience as creative director of large-scale arts projects in both traditional and non-traditional environments. She has a demonstrated ability and willingness to work in a multitude of art forms, centred on authentic ideas of place and community and is driven by strong aesthetic decision-making. Donna is a recognised leader in engaging diverse audiences in arts projects, which are outside the norm.
Educational background
- Bachelor of Education
- Certificate In Shot Firing
- Master of Arts
- Doctor of Philosophy - "Illuminating Arts Practice: Making Large-Scale Projects beyond the Mainstream"
Leadership Roles
- Director/Instigator - Art & Industry Festival, the inaugural 2016 festival comprising of 10 days, 20 events and 20,000+ people in Melbourne's western suburbs.
- Creative Director - Shifting Sands, Bleach Festival 2016. A cast of 40 performing, synchronised swimming, a stand up paddle board ballet on the water Gold Coast Queensland.
- Artistic Advisor and Consultant - Regional Arts Victoria, 1998 - 2011.
- Artistic Director - cast of 120 performing in Spin Canberra’s Weekend on Wheels the Centenary of Canberra, 2013
- Artistic Director, Writer and Producer – Dust with casts of 60 in in seven communities throughout Victoria, South Australia and Queensland,
2007 - 2013 - Artistic Director – Meeting Place, National Regional Arts Festival and conference Horsham, 2004
- Founder and Artistic Director of the Women’s Circus, a company of 120 women from 1991- 1996 including artistic leadership of a company tour to Beijing China, 1995
Publications
- Art and Social Change, DUST: A Case Study. Donna Jackson 2015
- Women’s Circus Leaping Off the Edge. Spinifex Press 1997. Contributor.
Awards
- Tattersall’s Award for enterprise and achievement
- Women’s Honour Roll for the Centenary of Federation
- Scholarship Cranlana Program
- Fellowship Theatre Board of the Australia Council for the Arts
Arts experience
- City of Gold Coast QLD
- City of Mandurah WA
- Ten Days on the Island Festival TAS
- Incite Arts NT
- Australian Capital Territory Government
- Melbourne Festival
- Regional Arts Victoria
- Footscray Community Arts Centre
- Sydney Opera House
- Federation Square VIC
- Creative Victoria
- City of Hobson’s Bay VIC
- Scienceworks Museum VIC
- National Gallery of Victoria
- Queensland Ballet
- Edinburgh Festival UK