Artist - Arts Manager - Speaker - Project Coordinator - Mentor - Advocate
Serving the regional arts sector of WA for more than twenty years
Bio
With more than twenty years of experience within the Community Cultural Development sector, Fiona is passionate about creating participatory experiences that engage local communities with themes of contemporary significance resonating across many levels.
Testimonials
“I was also impressed with the manner in which Fiona Sinclair carried out her duties, and gathered together such a network of arts people across Western Australia. This is a feat that comes through careful nurture, communication and collating.”
– Andrew Frazer, artist (Bunbury, WA)
“I feel that the scale and breadth of the project really made people sit up and pay attention to visual arts across the state - rather than an isolated, one-off project in one community. I think the project has shaken up the regional arts sector and made us all think and question what we are capable of and what opportunities we can create to become more visible.”
– Cait Stewart (artist and arts coordinator (Narrogin, WA)
“It was a good example of an alternative way of working in regional settings.”
– GalleriesWest
CV
SPECIALIST AREAS
• Unique strengths and challenges experienced by regional communities
• Collaboration, networking and advocacy within the regional arts sector
• Community consultation & facilitation processes
• Public art development, installation and management
SUMMARY OF SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
• Project development and management – including finance management on projects from less than $5,000 to over $100,000. Experience working within budgets and deadlines. Competent at resource development and allocation.
• Communications – excellent inter-personal skills, experienced at establishing and managing both simple and complex networks, including email, social media, phone, online conversation platforms, websites plus face to face connections (from one on one interactions to group dynamics).
• Self-directed – an experienced freelance artist and consultant, able to operate remotely and independently without supervision.
• Team player – able to contribute to team building as a leader (eg as Project Coordinator) or as participant (eg. as an artist under the management of others).
• Visual art skills – painting (specialising in murals), drawing, graphic design, sculpture (ceramic, fibreglass), mosaic, ephemeral environmental installation, paper based work.
POSITIONS HELD
2020-21 Coordinator of the Mycelium project for The Creative Grid collective (Southern Forest Arts)
2004-21 Artistic Director / General Manager / Secretary - Southern Forest Arts
2006-21 Gallery Director – Painted Tree Gallery, Northcliffe WA
2006-21 Manager - Understory Art & Nature Trail, Northcliffe, WA
202-21 Board Director - Chamber of Arts & Culture WA
2017-21 Board Director - Regional Arts WA
2020-21 Board Director - GalleriesWest
2017-19 Secretary - GalleriesWest
2017-20 Project Coordinator - ‘Connect to The Creative Grid’ (the regional visual arts sector project within Regional Arts WA’s Regional Arts Partnership Program)
COORDINATION OF COMMUNITY CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
2020-21 “Mycelium’ - a connection and collaboration for the WA regional arts sector to grow networks of support and exchange that lead to increased resilience, sustainability, wellbeing and vibrancy.
2017-19 ‘Connect to the Creative Grid’ – Regional Arts Partnership Program (state-wide, sector-wide, capacity-building initiative involving 50+ regional communities from Kununurra to Esperance)
2016 'Rising From the Ashes' - community sculptural commission in response to 2015 Northcliffe bushfire, Understory Art in Nature Trail, Northcliffe. Commissioned artist Kim Perrier.
2016 Editor of 'After the Burn' publication, community recovery post 2015 Northcliffe bushfire. 200+ page book incorporating, poetry, stories, reflections, artworks and photographs.
2014-15 'Forest Rhythm’ - community sculptural commission, Understory Art in Nature, Northcliffe. Commissioned artist: Peter Keelan
2013 'Growing Our Vision' - Fruitopia Community Mural Project, Northcliffe, WA.
2003-13 Celebrating Diversity – Northcliffe’s Painted Power Pole Project, Northcliffe, WA
2004-08 Project Coordinator for the establishment of the Understory Art in Nature Trail, Northcliffe, WA (Formerly Southern Forest Sculpture Walk)
2003 ‘Bums on Seats’ – Northcliffe Youth Funky sculptural seating project, Northcliffe, WA
2002 ‘There’s no place like home’ – Northcliffe Captured on Camera, Northcliffe,
COMMUNITY ART (PROJECT ARTIST)
2014 ‘Sharing the Harvest’ Mural, Shire of Manjimup & HACC, Manjimup WA
2013 'Growing Our Vision' - Fruitopia Community Mural Project, Northcliffe, WA
2003-12 ‘Celebrating Diversity’ – Northcliffe’s Painted Power Pole Project’, Northcliffe, WA
2011 Manjimup Senior School Engagement Program Banner Project, Manjimup, WA
2008 Mullewa Painted Power Poles, Mullewa, WA
2008 Manjimup Senior School Engagement Program Banner Project, Manjimup, WA
2002 Quindanning Community Mosaic Project, Quindanning WA
2001 St Monica’s College Community Art Mosaic, Cairns, Queensland
2000 Mural mentor-ship for local artist, John Scott, Kambalda WA
COMMUNITY ART (COLLABORATION WITH PETER HILL)
2003 Bums on Seats – Northcliffe Youth Funky sculptural seating project.
2003 Fish for the Future Mural, Windy Harbour.
2002 Cocos Islands Airport Banner Project, Cocos (K) Islands.
2002 NDHS Banner Project, Northcliffe
2001 Manjimup Community Spirit Mural, Manjimup, WA
2000 ‘Dream’ Mosaic, Manjimup SHS
2000 Bridgetown Youth Banner Project, Bridgetown, WA
1999 Boddington District High School ‘Percent for Art Project’, Boddington WA
1999 Manjimup Ceramic Mural, Manjimup WA
1999 Excitement Foreshore Banner Project, Busselton WA
1998 Northam Primary School Mural, Northam WA
1997 Reconciliation Mural, Toodyay District High School, Toodyay WA
1997 Artrage Festival - Opening decorations, Perth Cultural Centre, WA
1997 “Rant and Rave” Youth Forum Installation, Perth, WA
PUBLIC ART (COMMISSIONED ARTIST)
1998 South West Health Campus, Bunbury, Percent for Art Commission, WA
2001 Glass Mosaic – Dunsborough Centenary of Federation Gazebo, Dunsborough, WA
2000 Mosaic Entry Statement, Village Shopping Centre, North Perth, WA
PUBLIC ART (COLLABORATION WITH PETER HILL)
2012 Northcliffe Family & Community Centre ‘Hands On’ sign, Northcliffe, WA
2004-05 ManjimUp ‘n Physical, Manjimup WA
2004 'Something Fishy' Windy Harbour Mural, Shire of Manjimup, Windy Harbour, WA
2000-01 Katanning Agriculture Department Percent for Art Commission, Katanning, WA
1999 Boddington District High School ‘Percent for Art Project’, Boddington WA
1997 Northam Mainstreet Mural Project, Northam., WA
1997 A.V.A.S Banners, Avon Valley Arts Society, Northam, WA
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
2018 ‘Collaboration – piloting a new paradigm for regional communities’ (the RAPP program), Artlands, Ballarat, VIC
2018 ‘Sector Vision and Leadership’ GalleriesWest (National Public Galleries Summit, Sydney. NSW
2017 ‘Rising From the Ashes – Creative Recovery from Bushfire Trauma’ WA Regional Arts Summit, Mandurah, WA
2005 ‘Whatever you can do, do it.’ (Southern Forest Sculpture Walk), Regional Arts Australia Conference, Horsham, VIC
2005 ‘A work in Progress - Southern Forest Sculpture Walk’, Art in Nature International Network Annual Conference, Noosa, QLD
MENTORSHIPS
2018 ‘I’m a South West Exhibitionist’ – mentorship of 12 artists from 5 communities in the South West, Shire of Manjimup
2000 Mural mentor-ship for Kambalda artist, John Scott, Kambalda WA
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2002 November, Cocos Islands District High School
2002 March, Northcliffe District High School
2001 June, St Monica’s College, Cairns, Queensland.
1999 September, Boddington District High School.
1997 March-May, Cannery Arts Centre, Esperance.
1997 May-June, Vancouver Arts Centre Albany.
1997 August-September, Cannery Arts Centre Esperance.
1997 November-December, AFWA Regional Artists Residency, Fremantle.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 The Alternative Archive – Nectere, Manjimup Art Gallery
2019 The Alternative Archive – Nectere, Painted Tree Gallery
2001 South West Survey, Bunbury Regional Galleries, Bunbury.
2000 ‘The Feast’, Vancouver Arts Centre, Albany.
2000 Boorara Forest Land Art trail, Northcliffe WA.
1999 Giblett Art trail, Giblet Forest, Pemberton WA.
1999 Kojonup Land Art trail, Kojonup WA.
1998 ‘Fish Tales’, Vancouver Arts Centre, Albany WA.
1997 ‘Fish and Ships’, Cannery Arts Centre, Esperance WA.
AWARDS
2007 (Inaugural) Country Arts WA State Regional Arts Conference Award
2007 Southern Regions Community Leadership Forum – Inspiring Leadership for Under 35’s (Runner up)
PUBLICATIONS
Numerous articles (primarily on regional community art projects) featured in: The West Australian, ArtLink, Artsource Magazine, FACET newsletter (Forum Advocating Cultural and Environmental Tourism) The Bunbury Herald, Manjimup Bridgetown Times, Albany Advertiser, Kalgoorlie Miner, Esperance Express, Avon Valley Advocate, Rural, Remote and Regional Women’s Newsletter, Country Arts ‘Art Torque’ newsletter and the CANWA magazine.
INDUSTRY RELEVANT TRAINING
2017 Arts Governance, Institute of Community Directors
2017 ‘Sharing our Stories’ – Art on the Move and Museums Galleries Australia WA
2005-6 Mentored by Maggie Baxter in Public Arts Consultancy
2004 Mentored by Pilar Kasat in Cultural Mapping, supported by CAN
CURRENT MEMBERSHIPS
CAN (Community Arts Network), Regional Arts WA, Creative Recovery Network, Regional Arts Australia, NAVA (National Association of Visual Arts), Indigenous Community Volunteers, Amnesty International, Medecins Sans Frontieres, UNICEF, Get Up, Greenpeace.
ADDITIONAL
• Currently participating in CAN and Creative Recovery Network’s Pilot Professional Supervision Program
• Working with Children card – valid until June 2023
• DOB - 4th September 1972, Northam, Western Australia
