The Art & Heritage Advisory Panel provides expert advice and support to achieving the visual art, public art and heritage interpretation projects, services and activities that Darebin Council provides to our community. Specifically, the panel focuses on:
- Bundoora Homestead Art Centre, strategic vision and direction for Darebin’s public art gallery and heritage house.
- Darebin Art Collection, oversight of the Darebin Art Collection Policy and expert advice on acquisitions and commissions.
- Public Art, oversight of policy in relation to artwork and creativity in public spaces and expert advice on acquisitions, commissions and new opportunities for art to interact with the public realm.
- Financial sustainability, funding streams and investment opportunities including guidance on Bundoora Homestead Foundation Fund, growing the fund and spending decisions.
Lyndel Wischer (Chair)
Lyndel is a seasoned arts manager and curator dedicated to quality results in the public gallery and community arts sector. She has over twenty years experience managing Australian visual arts and presenting exhibitions and cultural events to a broad audience for the benefit of community cultural development.
Lyndel is the Director of Duldig Studio - Museum and Sculpture Garden, prior to which she was the Manager at Kinross Arts Centre for 6 years.
JD Mittmann
JD Mittmann has 15 years experience in curatorial, administrative and managerial roles within the sectors of community and commercial art. He is Curator & Manager of Collections at Burrinja, Dandenong Ranges Cultural Centre. JD has a Master of Arts (Technical University Berlin) and is a VCA alumni (School of Film & TV; Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development). Currently he serves as chair of the Board of Management at Bundoora Homestead Arts Centre and since 2018 on the Board of the Public Galleries Association Victoria (PGAV).
Kirsten Matthews
Kirsten has over 20 years’ experience working as a consultant and arts manager, across the public and private sector. She is currently working for mpconsulting, a small Carlton based firm which specialises in the provision of strategic planning, review and evaluation services. Prior to joining mpconsulting, Kirsten managed the Australia Cultural Fund at Creative Partnerships Australia, where she co-authored the book Building Relationships and Securing Donations: A Guide for the Arts. She has worked in private galleries, including Niagara Galleries in Melbourne and Milburn Gallery in Brisbane, and currently runs two art collecting groups committed to purchasing contemporary Australian art.
Giovanna D’Abaco
Giovanna D’Abaco has 30 years experience in managerial roles in the arts, culture and tourism sectors.
This includes nine years at Tourism Victoria (now Visit Victoria) and 26 years at State Library Victoria as Events/Program Manager. Giovanna spent three years in London where she worked as an account manager for public relations consultancies. Clients include the City of Lyon and Tourism New South Wales.
Giovanna was appointed to the Board of Management of Bundoora Homestead Arts Centre In December 2018.
Angie Bedford
Angie Bedford is an experienced arts manager, educator, and performer. She has over 20 years’ experience in musical theatre performance. Selected onstage credits include Lauren in Kinky Boots, Mary Lane in Reefer Madness, Shrek the Musical as Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy, Sarah in The Toxic Avenger the Musical (Australian Premiere), Marcy in Dogfight, and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors. Angie oversees co-curriculum and teaches Performing Arts in Melbourne’s Northern suburbs. Angie studied at La Trobe and RMIT Universities, completing a Bachelor of Arts (Honours – Theatre and Drama), a Bachelor of Arts Education, and a Master of Arts (with Distinction) in Arts Management. Her Theatre and Drama Honours investigated 21st Century Commercial Musical Theatre in Melbourne and her Masters explored Arts Education Programming and Curriculum Development.
Sue Thornton
Sue Thornton is creative producer and arts management professional. With a background in performing arts and stage production, Sue is drawn to projects that champion the arts, activate public spaces and connect people and communities. Currently employed at the University of Melbourne, Sue has produced major public performances, symposia, seminars, launches and conferences for the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). Recent major events that Sue has produced include Art 150, a year-long celebration of 150 years of art at the VCA; Dance 40, a celebration of the 40th anniversary of Dance at the VCA and the official launch of the Stables, the VCA’s innovative complex of student studios and exhibition spaces.
Kade McDonald
Kade Mcdonald is the Executive Director of Durrmu Arts Aboriginal Corporation and was the Coordinator for Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Arts and Cultural Centre for 6 years.
Mcdonald is the Australian Project manager and co-curator for the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum at the University of Virginia USA, for the exhibition, Madayin scheduled for 2020. He has also been appointed by the Art Gallery of South Australia as the Producer for the 2019 Tarnanthi Festival. McDonald was the founding Director of Bus Projects, Melbourne in 2001 and has been appointed to several committees including The Ministry for the Arts, The Australian Council for the Arts, Creative Victoria (Chair) and Arts NT Visual Arts. McDonald is a board member for the Bundoora Homestead Art Centre and is an appointed Expert Examiner for the Moveable Heritage Act on behalf of the Federal Government.