Directions Talking about… is a series of interviews with practicing artists, artsworkers and practitioners. In these interviews we discuss arts and cultural practice and identify the many various ways of engaging and working with the arts industry. We aim to offer articles that demystify the arts industry, and effectively extend the knowledge of arts educators and students, or artists embarking on their career pathway or life in the arts.

Meet Jade Lillie.

Jade is an arts and community cultural development practitioner, arts executive, educator and facilitator.

Living on the Sunshine Coast for the first 18 years of her life, Jade then hit the road to Brisbane, followed by Mossman, Far North Queensland. Following a stint as a High School Drama and English Teacher in Mossman, Jade describes her geographical life a little like this: "Brisbane, Thailand, India, Nepal, Darwin, South East Arnhem Land, Thailand, India, Brisbane, Thailand, New York, Brisbane and now, Thailand again!"

Since 2000, Jade has been developing her practice and philosophy around the belief that arts and culture, underpinned by sound engagement and social justice frameworks, are tools for social and systemic change. With a vast range of skills and expertise in arts management, community cultural development, education (alternative and mainstream) and training, facilitation, program development and management, consultation and engagement, change management, concept and framework development, policy development and interpretation, strategic development and planning, she has an impressive skill set that has taken her across the world and back and developed an outstanding reputation with in the Australian arts community.

In the interview below find out a little more about Jade and her fascinating cultural journey...


Find out more about Jade and her career pathway in the arts by reading the full article on Directions Magazine.