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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

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