Arts Interview was developed as a student-led platform to provide accessible insights into the experiences, challenges, and perspectives of Australian arts practitioners. The project aimed to encourage reflection within the arts community, foster dialogue around organisational and creative issues, and offer opportunities for learning across artforms, regions, and professional experience levels.

Arts Interview adopted CACD principles in its co-designed development, providing a participatory framework that foregrounded collaboration, shared decision-making, and experiential learning. The project was co-created with students from UNSW Art, Design and Architecture, who were responsible for every aspect of the initiative, including:
Visual identity and branding
Selection of interviewees and thematic direction
Project structure and workflow
Marketing, communications, and audience engagement
Interview design, transcription, and publication

This hands-on involvement gave students vital real-world experience, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge in a professional context while contributing meaningfully to a national arts resource. Students also gained experience in leadership, project management, and creative decision-making, reflecting a CACD-inspired approach to collaborative learning and practice.

Project Aim and Approach
I conceived Arts Interview to support both arts practitioners and students, creating a space for reflection, discussion, and knowledge exchange. Weekly interviews were published in a blog format and linked to key themes in Arts Management and Organisational Psychology, covering organisational challenges, creative decision-making, and professional development.

The project provided:
A learning platform for students, fostering project management, editorial skills, and professional communication.
A professional reflection tool for arts practitioners, enabling the sharing of insights, strategies, and lessons learned across disciplines.
A resource for the broader arts community, contributing to discussions about the state and sustainability of arts practice in Australia.

The initiative was made possible by extraordinary, dedicated student volunteer project managers and interviewers, whose contributions ensured the delivery of high-quality, consistent, and engaging content.
Impact and Reach
2011: 40 interviews published under the guidance of Masters student Kim Goodwin
2012: Another 40 interviews published under Alex Bellemore

Interviewees intentionally represented a diverse range of arts disciplines and sectors, including:
Lucy Feagins – The Design Files
Barry Keldoulis – Gallery Director
Darren Hanlon – Musician
Sebastian Goldspink – Alaska Projects
Lisa Havilah – Carriageworks
Anthony Bond OAM – AGNSW
Leigh Warren – LWD Dance Company
Zhang Di – White Space Beijing
Felicity Price – Actor and Producer
Nadine von Cohen – Writer
Steve Pozel – Object
Jennie Bradbury – Sydney Writers’ Festival
Campbell Hudson – Gadens Law Firm
D’Lan Davidson – Sotheby’s
…and many more

The platform became a national resource, providing insight into creative practice and organisational challenges, and supporting professional development and reflective practice across the arts sector.
Legacy and Continuing Influence

Arts Interview established a model for student-led, co-designed professional projects, demonstrating the value of embedding experiential learning and participatory frameworks in arts education. The project bridged the gap between academic learning and real-world practice, helping students develop confidence, professional networks, and a deeper understanding of Australian arts ecology.

Collaborative Process
Arts Interview was co-designed and delivered with UNSW Art, Design and Architecture students (then COFA) who played central roles as project managers, interviewers, editors, and designers, shaping the visual identity, selecting interviewees, structuring content, and developing marketing strategies. This participatory approach gave students meaningful agency over creative and organisational decisions, providing hands-on professional experience while ensuring the project remained dynamic, relevant, and responsive to the needs of both practitioners and audiences.

By embedding student leadership and collaboration into the workflow, the project functioned as a learning laboratory, enabling students to develop confidence, problem-solving skills, and insight into arts organisation operations. This project played a significant role in my being awarded the Inaugural UNSW Dean’s Award for Learning and Teaching.