Gareth Hart to lead Shepparton Arts Festival into 30th year
Executive Producer, Gareth Hart
Shepparton Arts Festival are delighted to have appointed a new leader with a wealth of arts event experience to take the Festival into its 30th Anniversary next year.
Gareth Hart has been appointed Executive Producer of the Festival, taking over from Diana Fisk, who has had to step down for personal reasons.
Gareth has served as a producer or event manager for more than 30 independent creative projects and festivals, including serving as CEO and Creative Director of Burrinja Cultural Centre and Executive Director of Arts Mildura. They have extensive experience living and working in regional communities, serving as Chair of the Regional Community Recovery Committee in 2022-23 and earlier this year was appointed as a Board Director of Regional Arts Victoria. .
Gareth is a published writer and was selected for the Australia Council for the Arts Leadership program in 2018. They join the Festival at an exciting time, and will build on the many achievements that Diana had during her time with the Festival this year.
“This is great news for Shepparton and for the Festival. We are delighted that Gareth has agreed to lead the Festival into its 30th Anniversary,” Festival Board Chair Tim Winkler said.
“This is a really exciting time for the Festival and Gareth brings tremendous experience and energy, with a passion for engaging with communities through art.
“Diana has done an extraordinary job to move the festival forward this year, and has provided a great foundation for the future. During her leadership we have developed a new strategy, initiated a new structure for the Board and Festival Ambassadors, brought back some favourite events that the community has been calling for, such as Opera in the Orchards and the literary lunch, and also secured some great new talent who we think audiences will love when the Festival lights up the Goulburn Valley from 20-29 March.
“We are of course very sorry to see Diana go, but can’t think of a better leader to build on Diana’s work than Gareth.”
Gareth will step into the role of Festival Executive Producer on 1 December. After this time, they will be contactable via gareth@sheppartonfestival.org.au
For media enquiries, please contact:
Tim Winkler
Ph: 0409 551 743