INTERSECT 2018 Participants (L-R): Adelaide Bannerman, Jacob Boehme, Candy Bowers, Natalie Ibu, Abdul Shayek and Mikala Tai.

INTERSECT began in 2018 led by the British Council and Diversity Arts Australia.  The programme aims to strengthen international connections between those who are changing whose work is seen, what is seen, how it is seen and who sees it. 

Both the UK and Australia are multi-ethnic societies, but diverse voices are underrepresented in our arts and cultural sectors. INTERSECT is addressing the balance of representation on our stages, in our art galleries and on screen by focusing on programming decision makers in the arts and cultural sectors. 

Six outstanding UK and Australian based curators, producers and artistic directors – Adelaide Bannerman, Jacob Boehme, Candy Bowers, Natalie Ibu, Abdul Shayek and Mikala Tai – were selected to share their experiences, their knowledge and best practice in developing the cultural sectors in both nations.

“The ability to see and hear each other on a level that is rarely fostered was transformative” – Candy Bowers. 

2018 INTERSECT participants

Abdul Shayek

Abdul Shayek is a Theatre Director and Artistic Director of FIO, which he founded in 2005. Abdul was formerly the Creative Associate for National Theatre Wales and has worked with a range of organisations including Contact Theatre, Theatre Royal Stratford East and The Almeida and various international organisations and projects.

Adelaide Bannerman

Adelaide Bannerman is a freelance project manager and curator based in London. Since 1998, Bannerman has worked for a number of renowned UK arts institutions that have included Autograph ABP, Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts), African and Asian Visual Artists Archive (AAVAA), Tate, Live Art Development Agency, Platform London, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, 198 Gallery and Arts Council England. 

 

Candy Bowers

Candy Bowers is a multidisciplinary writer, actor, producer, theatremaker and filmmaker. As the co-artistic director of Black Honey Company, Candy has pioneered a fierce sub-genre of contemporary performance that delves into the heart of radical feminist dreaming and earned her the 2018 Geoffrey Milne- Green Room Award for outstanding contribution to Independent Theatre.

Jacob Boehme

Jacob Boehme is Melbourne born and raised artist of the Narangga and Kaurna Nations, South Australia. Jacob is the founding Creative Director of YIRRAMBOI Festival, Melbourne's premier biennial First Nations arts festival presenting innovation in contemporary and experimental First Nations arts practice from around the world and recipient of the 2018 Green Room Award for Curatorial Contribution to Contemporary and Experimental Arts.

Mikala Tai

Mikala Tai is the director of 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Sydney. As a curator, researcher, and academic specialising in contemporary Asian art, Mikala has collaborated with local, national, and international organisations to strengthen ties between Australia and Asia.

Natalie Ibu

Natalie Ibu is the artistic director and CEO of tiata fahodzi and leads a consortium in delivering the Artistic Director Leadership Programme - a strategic project funded by the Arts Council England’s Sustain Theatre Fund, facilitating the professional development of 28 leaders of colour.