Development and Fundraising Officer

How did you get started in your career and what formal qualifications do you have?
I have a Bachelor in Fine Art and Masters in Art Curatorship from the University of Melbourne. While I was at university, I held volunteer and casual roles at several galleries, which included a Board role at the Artist Run Initiative, BLINDSIDE. This was fantastic experience for me that really exposed me to how galleries operate on multiple levels. Prior to joining TarraWarra Museum of Art, I was General Manager at The Substation where I wore a lot of hats, fundraising being one of them. I became more and more interested in development so when I saw a dedicated role at TarraWarra, I thought it would be a great opportunity to hone my skills. Fundraising and development really is the unsung hero of the art world. I don’t think anyone dreams of becoming a fundraiser, but if you are interested in how to create and support a thriving arts sector, then it could be the role for you. And while there aren’t any formal qualifications in fundraising, there are lots of training sessions run by various groups to improve your skills and network.

What does your role as Manager of External Relations encompass?
I manage all aspects of fundraising and development, including individual donors, philanthropic trusts and foundations, government grants and corporate sponsorship. I also liaise with and provide reports to the Board.

What knowledge and skills do you think are most needed for this role?
Fundraising is first and foremost about relationships, so you have to be good with talking to people, and perhaps even more important – a good listener. Also important to the role is a good understanding of how budgets work so you can identify where the organisation most needs support. Finally, you will hear your fair share of “no” so patience and resilience goes a long way too.

What is the most interesting or challenging aspect of your job?
It comes as no surprise that funding in the arts is competitive but with that comes an opportunity to get creative in who you approach, hone in on what makes your organisation special, and share with others why you love the arts and why it is important to support the arts in society.

What has been your career highlight so far?
TarraWarra Museum of Art is due to open the Eva and Marc Besen Centre in 2024, a dedicated space for learning and engagement programs as well as space to hold about half of our collection in visible storage. Sharing this incredibly exciting development with funding bodies and philanthropists and bringing them on the journey has definitely been a career highlight so far.

What do you think are the key issues for public galleries in the future?
Competition in the entertainment, leisure, and tourism sector. Audiences have so much choice as to where to spend their time and money, so public galleries need to create appealing propositions and really understand and communicate their place and value. This doesn’t mean only creating Instagram-able, blockbuster exhibitions, but also getting creative with communicating the experience of visiting galleries and exhibitions.