Susie Waller
From a young age I have had an active interest and involvement in many creative and cultural pursuits including drawing, calligraphy, ceramics, cooking, music, learning languages as well as researching my own mixed-cultural heritage – Australian, West Indian, Irish, Scottish, Indian and English. It has been this innate passion for all things cultural and creative that has led me to my current role of Creative Producer.
Education
After high school, I studied a Bachelor of Arts – Visual Arts at Curtin University’s School of Art and Design (1995-1998). Here I majored in Jewellery and Three-Dimensional Design, and expanded my creative interest and experience to textiles, photography, painting and sculpture. It was through my art studies and practice, particularly through ephemeral artwork and Permaculture, that I developed a keen interest in the environment.
A strong interest that saw me continue my tertiary studies, this time undertaking an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainable Development at Murdoch University (2000-2002). Here I was was exposed to many new and exciting ecological and cultural areas including environmental science, economics, ethics and policy, as well as screen studies and Noongar culture & language.
Work Experience
Following my undergraduate studies I pursued a career in Sustainability Policy, believing this was the area where I could make the biggest impact. Starting out in the environment sector, working as Policy Officer within the Department of Environment, and transitioning into cultural policy, securing the position of Cultural Planning and Development Manager at the Community Arts Network WA. It was during this time that I commenced my Master of Sustainability, merging my dual passions of creativity and sustainability, with a research thesis exploring sustainability, sense of place and story (2007-2009). My Masters also included a placement within the Sustainability Policy Unit of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
From 2010 I embarked on a Doctor of Philosophy – Art, split between the Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute, Fremantle and Curtin’s School of Art and Design (SODA), Bentley. Whist incomplete, I undertook three years (2010-2012) researching the role of artists as change agents and investigating how arts and creativity can facilitate positive sustainable change.
Enliven
In 2010 I established myself as an independent Creative Producer, establishing my own community arts and cultural development practice, Enliven: Arts, Culture, Sustainability. Based in Fremantle, Western Australia, I manage a range of community-based art projects differing in size, community, artform, theme as well as outcomes. I have worked with a diverse range of community groups, including children, people with intellectual disability as well as the local Noongar community. In addition to a number of self-initiated projects, clients have included the City of Fremantle, Nulsen Disability Services, Mosaic Community Care, Mixed Palette Inc., Sustainable Housing for Artists and Creatives/Josh Byrne and Associates, and the Conservation Council of WA.
Community Arts
In recognition of my contribution to Western Australian’s with a disability, through my work with As We Are: Artists Who Have an Intellectual Disability, in 2016 I was awarded the ‘Excellence in Improving Participation Award’ in the National Disability Services’ Disability Support Awards.
I continue to maintain an active role in the community arts sector in WA. I have been a Board Member of the Community Arts Network WA (CAN) (2012-2016), as well as a Panel Member and Chair of the CAN’s Catalyst Community Arts Fund Assessment Panel from 2009 and 2014 respectively until it’s cessation in 2017. I continue to be a member of CAN and also retain a membership with the National Association of Visual Artists (NAVA).
I am currently a Board Member and Secretary for disability-led arts group Mixed Palette Inc. (2020 – current) and a casual Peer Assessor for the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries’ Culture and the Arts’ Peer Assessment Panels (2018-current). I am also a non-Indigenous Community Member of the City of Fremantle’s Walyalup Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group (2023 – current).