The current Gold Coast arts and culture scene owes a great deal to the extraordinary talents of many hardworking, visionary women. Here are a handful we have had the pleasure of working alongside over the last ten years:
LUCY FISHER
Lucy is a born and bred Gold Coast gal but moved to the United Kingdom for a number of years, before returning with her husband, filmmaker, Darren Fisher. In 2015, Lucy joined the Gold Coast Film Festival, taking on the role of CEO and Festival Director. During her time in this role, she brought a new vision and level of success to the event with a sharp spike in ticket sales, reputation and support. During her five dynamo years at the helm of this key Gold Coast event, Lucy won the Women in Business Award for Arts, Culture and Tourism and a finalist in the Gold Coast Bulletin Woman of the Year Award. Since moving on from GCFF, Lucy has completed an MBA at Bond University and continues to make a significant contribution to Arts and Events on the Gold Coast.
CRIENA GEHRKE
Creative leader, transformer and industry heavy hitter are some of the words that describe Criena Gehrke, former CEO of HOTA, Home of the Arts. Criena’s passion and relentless determination to transform the Gold Coast from a middling cultural destination to a national, even international, centre of events, talent and incubator of new works, came to fruition during the period of her leadership at HOTA. In this role she saw the vision of a cultural precinct become a reality with the crown in the jewel being the creation of a $60 million multi-level HOTA Gallery. Criena has a diverse and eclectic background in arts and culture, management, strategic direction, and has always been connected with people and communities. She is one tenacious woman who has left an indelible mark on the cultural heart of the Gold Coast.
LOUISE BEZZINA
“Though she be but little, she is fierce!” Don’t be fooled by Louise Bezzina’s petite stature! She is one kick ass arts female leader, mother, changemaker and a powerhouse of creative energy. She has been kicking major career goals from a young age. Louise was Director of the Mackay Festival at the age of 23 and from there her achievements have included Program Manager for the Judith Wright Centre, the creation of the Gold Coast’s Bleach* and is currently the Artistic Director of the Brisbane Festival. Bleach* established Louise as one of the most accomplished and inspirational female Arts leaders, and paved the way for numerous artists, particularly women, to work in professional art positions on the Gold Coast. She has a fast and furious approach when the job needs to get done and champions community engagement. It’s no wonder she took out the 2018 Gold Coast Woman of the Year.
NATASHA EDWARDS
The public art scene needs not only artistic knowledge to flourish, but a sharp business knowhow, and when these two elements come together, magic can happen! This pretty much describes co-founder and Artistic Director of SWELL, Natasha Edwards. Since 2003, SWELL has become an iconic event on the Gold Coast. Natasha brings arts, people and place together through public art, and creates magical memories. She is a driving force of arts and culture across the Gold Coast, and beyond, and works as a curator, programmer and builder of cultural identity. Public art installations Natasha is responsible for include the Anzac Day 100 year Centenary Poppies Project, Brisbane Airport Corporation Art, numerous city projects and public installations from Macintosh Island to Palm Beach Parklands, Currumbin foreshore. The list goes on! Impressed? But wait, there’s more. In her spare time, Natasha is an avid sailor and includes the Sydney to Hobart in her list of achievements.
EMMA MILKINS
Emma is the Miami Marketta creative director and founder of the GC’s original street food market. Since opening in 2011, Emma has worked like a Trojan to grow the venue from its humble beginnings to a much-loved destination to enjoy a selection of varied foods and drinks from over 25 vendors, plus an array of local grown arts, crafts and fashions, and of course, eclectic entertainment. Emma, and an incredibly loyal, dedicated team, has provided a performance hub for independent artists, local musos, singers and performers, as well as big name national and international acts. She has put the Gold Coast on the map for an indoor and outdoor night market experience.
ANDREA LEWIS
“To encourage literature and arts is a duty which every good citizen owes to his country,” according to George Washington, and Andrea Lewis has certainly heeded these wise words! Andrea, CEO and Festival Director of Somerset Storyfest, has led this organisation from strength to strength over 30 plus years, transforming a three-day children’s writers festival into a national literary event. Each March children, youth and adults of the Gold Coast can enjoy a celebration of writers and storytellers. In more recent years Andrea has spearheaded other major programmes that support writers and arts workers. She has taken literature to schools and regional centres, developing literacy and a love for literature in kids of all ages and backgrounds. And who doesn’t love those little Lending Libraries that have mushroomed on the Gold Coast and beyond. The reward of ‘duty’ is making a difference, the power to transform lives and bring happiness to others, and Andrea is an absolute testament to this.
TRACEY COOPER-LAVERY
Game-changer; brains and creative talent; arts museum leader; are a few of the phrases that pop up when describing Tracey Cooper-Lavery. Tracey is one inspired and gutsy lady who dreams big! As Director of Gallery and Visual Arts at HOTA she has transformed the profile on a local, national and now international level with opening of the Pop Masters Exhibition from the Mugrabi Collection. When she approached Jose Mugrabi about curating this world first exhibition on the Gold Coast, the first sod hadn’t even been turned for the new gallery. Tracey has an impressive career spanning 25 years and has curated numerous exhibitions on Australia and international art, been awarded professional development grants and is a driving force behind Australia’s largest public gallery outside a capital city in Australia. It’s not all about the big-name art though as Tracey keenly supports local and emerging artists of the Gold Coast.
ROSIE DENNIS
There has been a cultural revolution on the Gold Coast in recent years and one woman driving this change and perception of the GC is Rosie Dennis. She comes from a background that creates site-based practice, curating and delivering very visible, large-scale cultural projects. She is CEO and Artistic Director of Placemakers*, who create extraordinary arts and experiences and storytelling, primarily through Bleach*. Rosie is also CEO/Artistic Director of Bleach*. It takes a gutsy woman to take bring these projects into being, and to shift the perception of the Gold Coast as a backwater when it comes to arts and culture. Rosie and her team have challenged the stereotypes and are committed to growing and developing place-based contemporary arts and festivals far beyond the city limits of the Gold Coast.
RUTH DELLA
Ruth Della hardly needs an introduction! She has been making her mark on the arts and culture scene of the Gold Coast for over two decades. She was Creative Director at SWELL for 10 years, engaging and enrichening the lives of locals and visitors alike. Most recently she has taken on the role of Curator, Outdoor Programming and Public Art at HOTA where she delivers a program of art inspired by our outdoor lifestyle. She works closely with artists to bring their ideas to life in bold and creative ways in the outdoor surrounds of the striking HOTA Gallery. Ruth has been a key player in the transformation of the HOTA precinct and continues to curate public art installations that encourage interaction and engagement from the community.
SAM MORRIS and CHLOE POPA
And no list of women who have shaped the arts and culture scene on the Gold Coast would be complete without mentioning Sam Morris and Chloe Popa. These powerhouse women teamed up in 2013 to create Blank Street Press (then Blank GC) and for 10 years they have kept us informed and inspired by the music, art, food and culture of the Gold Coast. In 2015 (along with Amanda Gorman) they launched the Gold Coast Music Awards - the annual event that celebrates and recognises achievements of the Australian music industry based on the Gold Coast and shines a spotlight on local talent. Most recently they have continued their synergistic partnership with the publication of Nevertheless Journal - a quarterly print mag and online community sharing the stories of women and their persistence, passion and purpose. The people of the Gold Coast owe a debt of gratitude to Sam and Chloe for the massive roles they’ve played in developing and growing the cultural scene of our City.
THIS PIECE WAS CREATED FOR BLANK'S SPECIAL 100th EDITION, DISTRIBUTED IN MARCH 2023.
