Arts Advisory board

The Sunshine Coast Arts Advisory board will provide advice and direction for council to consider as it develops a strategic blueprint to grow the region's investment in the arts.

The Sunshine Coast Arts Advisory board will provide advice and direction for council to consider as it develops a strategic blueprint to grow the region's investment in the arts.

Help drive arts and culture in the region

Council is calling for expressions of interest from an experienced, professional arts/creative sector leader to fill a vacancy on the Arts Advisory board.

The vacancy is for a practicing artist or creative whose role will be to provide the board with strategic arts advice as it relates to the development and growth of the digital arts sector. 

The inaugural Arts Advisory board was established in 2016. Board members in the 5 non-identified positions having 2 year terms (with the option to continue for a second term).

Due to retirement (end of term) of one of the board members there is currently one position vacant.

The board has identified and recognised the need to ensure the position is filled by a practicing artist/creative who will work as part of a cohesive team to provide strategic advice to council and who advocates for the arts and creative sector on the Sunshine Coast.

The position description (DOC, 135.5KB) recognises that with the retirement of the valued sector representative on the board there is a need to ensure strategic advice is provided in relation to the industry. 

Sunshine Coast based practicing artists/creatives from any genre, are invited to express an interest.

To be successful in the role you must:

  • be committed to understanding the arts and creative sector, specifically as it relates to the Sunshine Coast, and be ready to add value through your skills and knowledge to achieve the board’s objectives
  • proactively participate in discussions and make recommendations in a professional and independent manner as a strategic arts advisor to council
  • have well-developed team skills to ensure open, collaborative, confident and constructive communications and discussions with a board populated by highly experienced and professional members from diverse arts and cultural backgrounds
  • have the confidence and connections to form and strengthen arts and creative sector networks, business and government networks and develop ongoing relationships to advocate for the arts and creative sector on the Sunshine Coast.

The board meets formally up to 5 times a year including 2 one day strategic planning workshop.

Board members are remunerated for their services in line with sitting fee rates for non-government members of Queensland Boards.

Applications are to be submitted online using the application form (DOCX, 108.47KB).

Applications close Monday 16 October 2023.

For more information, email: [email protected], or contact the coordinator of the creative arts and events team on 5420 8789.

Role of the board

Working with the charter (PDF, 248.11KB) the board’s role is to:

  • guide, promote and help build the identity of the Sunshine Coast as an arts destination for tourism and industry
  • advocate the region’s advantages to secure new investment in arts and cultural infrastructure
  • provide strategic advice to council in relation to arts and cultural facilities and infrastructure
  • provide advice on strategic direction of wider cultural policy and strategy
  • provide opportunities to develop philanthropic activity in relation to the regional arts offer.

Contact the Sunshine Coast Arts Advisory board.

Annual reports

Board members

The members of the board have a diverse range of skills, expertise and creative insight in strategic planning and the development of cultural policy.

  • Patricia Adjei

    Patricia Adjei

    As the Head of First Nations Arts and Culture at the Australia Council, and prior to that, the First Nations Strategic Development Manager, Patricia brings experience in governance, legal skills and cultural protocol as it applies to the Indigenous sector, to the Board.

    View full profile

  • Kris Stewart

    Kris Stewart

    Kris Stewart is a creative industries executive and artistic leader whose work has been seen through the US, Canada, Europe and Australia and New Zealand. Kris is currently the Artistic Director of The Brisbane Powerhouse, Queensland’s home for contemporary cultural practice. Here, he presents over 1500 performances and stakeholder events a year, and produces such festivals as the Brisbane Comedy Festival, the Australian Performing Arts Market, and others.

    View full profile

  • Mayor Mark Jamieson

    Mayor Mark Jamieson

    Prior to his election as Mayor in 2012, Mayor Mark Jamieson had an extensive career in chief executive and senior leadership roles in the private sector. He had both strategic and operational responsibilities for customer satisfaction, staff development, business performance and shareholder growth. He has a proven track record of successful business expansion and a demonstrated capacity to grow and develop himself and those around him.

    View full profile

  • Councillor Rick Baberowski

    Councillor Rick Baberowski

    Deputy Mayor Rick Baberowski is a third term councillor and has an extensive background in the arts and heritage sectors. He is the Sunshine Coast Arts Foundation Director and currently holds the Community Portfolio – Arts, Heritage and Transport.

    View full profile

  • Maz McGann (Chair)

    Maz McGann (Chair)

    Working across community and government, Maz McGann has extensive experience in leading the development of strategies, business plans and undertaking evaluations and consultations across a range of areas including arts, culture and tourism.

    Maz is the founder and principal of Play Your Part Consultancy and has worked with local councils, arts and community organisations across Australia, and the Federal Government’s Department of Communication and the Arts. Maz brings more than 15 years of strategic and creative thinking and practical experience to the table.

    View full profile

  • Jennifer Radbourne

    Jennifer Radbourne

    Emeritus Professor Jennifer Radbourne has extensive experience in performing arts, arts governance, philanthropy and academia.

    View full profile

  • Helena Gulash

    Helena Gulash

    Helena Gulash is a Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) woman who brings strategic leadership experience from her extensive work in First Nations affairs, both within Government and Community.

    Helena established, and is principal of, Helena Gulash Consulting, which provides Indigenous Arts and cultural management expertise. An active advocate for Indigenous community cultural development on the Sunshine Coast, Helena is passionate about the potential for the dynamic Indigenous Arts and cultural industry to stimulate positive change for First Nations peoples.

    View full profile

  • Liz Burcham

    Liz Burcham

    Liz Burcham is the President of the Sunshine Coast Creative Alliance. She has had a wide-reaching career in the arts and creative industries leading creative businesses and projects. The focus of her freelance practice is strategic planning and creative professional development while also being Editor of Museum of Brisbane’s lifestyle magazine, SUNNIE.

    View full profile

  • Andrew Maccoll

    Andrew Maccoll

    Andrew Maccoll, Founder of Saturate, a distributed design team of highly skilled creatives based on the Sunshine Coast, is a Creative Director and Cinematographer. He is an expert in brand strategy and culture changing creativity, with a skill set including photography and film direction. 

    View full profile