I’ve been involved with Melbourne Fringe on and off since 1987! I was a volunteer, then performed, directed, was a Project Coordinator in 1994 and later became the Festival Director for the 2001 & 2002 Festivals. Even now I feel a special connection to the place and will keep hanging out in the corridors until someone asks me to leave!

What made you interested in the Arts and how did you begin your career? Can you tell us a bit about your current role?

If the truth be told, I was a three year old tap dancer and spent a lot of my childhood in dance studios. Pantomime is my first language. Then I followed the usual route of school plays, university student theatre and then went to the Victorian College of the Arts Drama School to do the Animateuring course.

Right now, I’m the Artistic Director of FULL TILT at the Arts Centre and the Program Manager for Creative Development. What that means is that I work a lot with independent artists and small / medium sized companies who are creating their own original work and I try to find ways to support the development of their ideas. And then program them into the Arts Centre venues. It’s pretty much my dream job.

What role (if any) did education play in helping you work in the arts? 

A big role - although educational qualifications aren’t enough by themselves, you have to follow it up with some street-smarts. My VCA training was essential in getting started. Job offers didn’t come flying at me upon graduation, but the training gave me the sense of confidence to have a go. More recently I went back to VCA to do my Masters in Animateuring by Research. I felt after a decade of freelance project work it was time to refresh my knowledge base and feel challenged again. You never stop learning.

Can you tell us about an arts project or moment that you’re most proud of and why?

There are lots. One would be seeing 4,500 people get naked for Fringe in 2001 for the Spencer Tunick photo. It was a surreal conclusion to a conversation in the Fringe kitchen 6 months earlier where I said “wouldn’t it be cool if we asked this guy to Melbourne”. And then the whole team made it happen. Quintessential Fringe can-do attitude.

The other one would be building the relationship between the Arts Centre and Melbourne Fringe.  It’s my not-so-secret mission.

What advice would you give to people wanting to be involved in the arts in Melbourne?

See lots of it. Get a perspective on how broad and diverse the arts in Melbourne are.

Volunteer for something – one of the festivals, a big event. It’s the best way to work out what you want to do and how it’s done.