Art is something we consume, or participate in every day – whether we realise it or not. Every podcast we listen to, book we read, or tv show or movie is a piece of art. A lot of the time we don’t realise that we are participating in it at all.

I invited Jade Lillie, Head of Sector Development at the Australia Council for the Arts to chat with me about the role art plays in our everyday lives, how it can be used as an effective tool to address social issues, and the complexities surrounding the funding and delivery of arts project in Australia and overseas, particularly in an international development context.

Jade is known for her work as a leader, executive, facilitator and specialist in community engagement. She has been recognised for her thought leadership in receiving the Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship in 2018 – 19 following her role as Director and CEO, Footscray Community Arts Centre (2012 – 2017).

Whilst Jade has held a number of leadership roles across the sector, she is primarily known and respected for her skills and expertise in strategy, governance and her commitment to collaboration, cultural leadership and advocacy in championing diversity and access.

She has worked extensively in arts, cultural development, health, education, community and international development contexts in government and non-government settings, including non-profit management, local and state government.

She has lived and worked in regional, remote and metropolitan contexts across Australia and South East Asia.

Jade is also the Curator and Editor for The Relationship is the Project.

Jade is reading Glimpses of Utopia: Real Ideas for a Fairer World by Jess Scully

Jade is planning to listen to I Weigh with Jameela Jamil.