Nikita joins the ACF team having worked in visual arts, curating and arts writing, alongside a background in creating and managing grant programs – a perfect match for the ACF if you ask us! We are excited for her to share her wealth of knowledge and passion for the arts with our ACF artists and donors.
Welcome to the team! What are you most excited about in your new role as Australian Cultural Fund Officer?
I love working with artists and am excited to be in a position to best support them in developing and presenting their incredible work. Funding in the arts can be tough, and I’m stoked to be a part of an organisation that puts the arts and its many communities first.
Tell us a bit of background on your pre-ACF life and some career highlights.
I would probably be best described as a writer/curator. I moved from Canberra to Sydney to study a Bachelor of Art Theory at UNSW and have recently made my way down south to Melbourne for a cool change. I’ve curated exhibitions at Fairfield City Museum & Gallery and Firstdraft in Sydney with wonderful Australian artists and written for arts publications including Artist Profile, Memo Review, and Art + Australia Online. I have spent a bit of time in arts funding, grants administration and investment at Create NSW supporting the state’s artists and arts workers.
What do you think are the most important focuses for artists and arts organisations seeking private sector support at the moment?
I think it’s about creating meaningful and lasting connections with individuals and organisations that want to support your practice. It can be so rewarding for both artist and donor to form a longer-term connection and grow together.
Tell us about a really great piece of art you experienced recently.
Where to begin! I loved Teelah George’s installations at ACCA as part of the Future Remains: 2024 Macfarlane Commissions, especially the enmeshing of bronze with cardboard and blu-tack alongside intricate and heavily layered tapestries.
If you want to get in touch with Nikita for advice on running a fundraising campaign or how to donate, contact her here.