ARTISTIC DIRECTORATE
Artistic directors Dr Andrea Lemon and Andrea Rieniets each have over 30 years’ experience as respected artists and community cultural development leaders.
Dr Andrea Lemon – creative director, scriptwriter, author, curator, stage director
Amongst her achievements Ande was Artistic Director of Melbourne’s Women’s Circus (2002-2003) for women who identify as survivors of sexual abuse or assault; Coordinator of the Royal Children’s Hospital Wyndham region Arts and Mental Health programme working with primary and special needs schools, community agencies and mental health professionals; has written and directed over 50 community-based and professional scripts and productions.
She is the recipient of awards from the Australian Writers’ Guild; Victorian Green Room and the Edinburgh Fringe; and received the Centenary Federation Medal for Services to Society in theatre.
Ande was recently awarded a Doctorate for her thesis examining community belonging in the context of nomadic Australian circus communities. Her thesis was nominated for a University of Melbourne Chancellor’s Award, and her research formed the basis for her major photographic and oral history exhibition, The Circus Diaries at The Arts Centre, Melbourne.
Andrea Rieniets – creative director, songwriter, composer, musician, singer
Andrea Rieniets is a songwriter, composer, musical director, musician and singer performing at venues such as Womadelaide and the Famous Spiegeltent; and directing community choirs such as Adelaide’s Before You Were Blonde contemporary community choir, and Sing It Up Big Australian Indigenous Choir.
Her compositional works and concerts have featured in the Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide festivals; Helsinki National Opera and ABC radio. She has worked in schools with The Songroom; facilitates youth philanthropy in the Banyule region and has created over 40 recordings for solo, stage and film works. She is the first Australian composer to be awarded an ANARE berth to Antarctica, the recipient of the Centenary Federation Medal for Services to Society in theatre and the Australian Arts Business Foundation Community Award for Good Practice in Partnership.
Ande and Andrea’s work takes a long-term, heart-centred view of children as collaborators in, and creators of community. They are also Directors of Cha Cha Sam – music for big-spirited kids and their grownups.
BOARD
Denise Rieniets, is solicitor/owner of Denise Rieniets and Associates family law firm in Adelaide South Australia.
Doug Bourne is accountant/owner of accountancy firm Bourne Romeo in Melbourne.
Kate Darian-Smith is professor at Melbourne University Australia Centre.
Andrea Rieniets
Dr Ande Lemon
