Joon-Yee Kwok will be taking the artistic lead for next year’s festival program!

Joon is a Creative Producer and Arts Manager with over 20 years experience working in the Arts and Creative Industries. Her portfolio career includes experience working in not-for-profit, corporate, government, education, community, and independent arts sectors and across a range of art forms. She has expertise in festivals/events, creative placemaking, community-engaged practice, cultural diversity initiatives, and artist and sector development.

For the past 10 years, Joon has been presenting, celebrating, and supporting Asian Australian artists, culture, and communities. She initiated BrisAsia Festival, Brisbane City Council, and later produced To Bollywood With Love (2014), Amigurumi Toyland (2015), Yum Chat (2013, 2016) and Neon Pop (2013, 2017) as part of the festival. In 2017, as the Outdoor Programs Producer for OzAsia Festival, she produced Moon Lantern Parade and presented performances by Adelaide’s Asian Australian communities at Lucky Dumpling Market. She is also the founder and convener of the Australian Bureau of Asian Creatives, a network supporting and celebrating the work of Asian Australian artists.

Joon has also consulted on cultural diversity initiatives, and artist and sector development programs with projects including Australia Council’s Theatre Diversity Initiative (2013-2014), Multicultural Artists Development Initiative for City of Gold Coast (2015-2017), and the Fair Play Project with Diversity Arts Australia (2018). She has also been a past member of the Queensland Government’s Multicultural Advisory Council (2016-2019).

Other festivals and special events that Joon has worked on include: Woodford Folk Festival, Riverfestival, World Expo 88 25th Anniversary (Brisbane City Council), South Bank’s New Year’s Eve and the inaugural Regional Flavours, Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols (Channel 7), Brisbane International Film Festival, Brisbane International Animation Festival, Queensland New Filmmaker Awards, Brisbane Arts and Culture Innovation Awards and QUT Creative Enterprise Australia’s Creative3 Forum.