The Room To Create Panel is a sub-committee of YAARTS which provides specialist advice as required on matters related to creative infrastructure in the City of Yarra.
Yarra City Council is concerned about infrastructure related issues facing the creative sector; those relate to affordability, security of tenure, fit for purpose and capacity to operate effectively in a city area of increasing density and accompanying challenges of amenity.
Council has established a perpetual fund to support creative infrastructure in the City of Yarra. The Room to Create Fund (‘the Fund’) was established with the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation in 2014.
The Fund is one way for Council to support a valued sector by specifically assisting to create more affordable spaces. It is hoped this will enable arts and cultural organisations to be more economically viable and give incentives for them to be able to stay within Yarra. It will also strengthen artistic practice in the municipality, assisting in retaining an economic driver within Yarra.
To find out more about the panel view the Terms of Reference.
Room to Create Panel Membership
Yarra Councillors Edward Crossland (Deputy Mayor) and Stephen Jolly are members of the panel.
Justin Nott
Justin is an independent director, writer and festival programmer whose theatre practice explores experientialism, subversion and formal play in queer, post-dramatic and highly visual pieces. By interrogating the relationship between body, space and text, he creates performances of ambitious scope, composing physical and poetic scores to construct complex visual narratives.
Justin’s most recent directing credit is Variations or Exit Music, a queer autobiographical play he also wrote which premiered at La Mama Courthouse September 15-25, 2022. The piece received rave reviews and saw sold-out audiences across the season.
Julia Gregg
Julia is an arts manager, and an advocate for the creative communities of Yarra. Julia has worked across publishing, the creative industries and not-for-profit arts organisation, and currently works as Executive Manager, Strategy and Development at Collingwood Yards in Yarra.
Matthew Fung
Matthew is an interior architect and a practising artist. He has worked in the building industry for over 8 years working in several firms and studios as a designer and fabricator across Sydney and Melbourne. Matthew lives and works in Yarra.
Harriet Mantell
Harriet is a long time resident of Collingwood. She has worked both in the public and private sector, in Australia and overseas. She has also been a community activist to save the inner north from a massive road development. Harriet is passionate about continuing support for creativity in Yarra.
Shini Pararajashingham
Shini is the Founder and Director of Off the Kerb. Her role is in the strategic direction of the gallery and the creation of a calendar of exhibitions and special artistic projects that contribute to a dynamic independent arts sector in Melbourne renowned for innovation, excellence and internationally recognized standards. Shini works and owns a business in Yarra.