Performing Lines WA announces new Senior Producer

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Jeremy Smith to the position of Senior Producer, recently vacated by Rachael Whitworth.

Marion Potts, Executive Producer, says, “I am delighted that Jeremy will head up Performing Lines WA and work closely with the team to keep delivering on Performing Lines WA’s extraordinary achievements. His vast experience, skills and values alignment with the company will inform an exciting future for WA independent artists and their position in the local and national landscape.”

Jeremy adds, “I am humbled and so excited by the opportunity to be part of the next chapter of Performing Lines WA. I love Western Australia and being part of the arts and creative sector here. I hope my knowledge and networks, underpinned by my lived experience as a disabled man, will offer solid foundations for our amazing team, plus the artists, audiences and communities we work alongside.”

Jeremy was most recently General Manager with PICA, and prior to that was Director of Experimental Arts and Community Arts at the Australia Council. Raised and trained in Western Australia, Jeremy has an extensive experience in the arts and not-for-profit sector having held a range of senior positions. He has worked closely with artists, organisations and communities in all corners of the country promoting artistic bravery, self-determination and brokering opportunities. He is a graduate of WAAPA, and worked as a freelance lighting designer, production manager and creative producer in the early stages of his career.

With a great sense of humour (proven in his anti-bio) and a wealth of knowledge and experience, we are excited by what the future holds for Performing Lines WA under Jeremy’s new leadership.

Jeremy will commence with Performing Lines WA on Monday 23 August, 2021.

Jeremy Smith Biography

In April 2020, Jeremy returned to Boorloo/Perth after four years at the Australia Council for the Arts as Director – Community, Emerging and Experimental Arts.

He worked closely with artists, organisations and communities in all corners of the country promoting artistic bravery, self-determination and brokering opportunities. In addition to his extensive portfolio, Jeremy championed Regional and Remote Australia under the Australia Council’s Cultural Engagement Framework and helped to develop and deliver key arts and disability initiatives.

As the General Manager of the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA), Jeremy loved working within a contemporary arts organisation supporting the development, presentation and commissioning of work by leading interdisciplinary artists.

He is a board member of both the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA and pvi collective.

He has previously held a range of senior positions in the corporate, not for profit and government sectors in Western Australia, including with DADAA, the AWESOME Festival and ArtsWA / Department of Culture and the Arts. He is a graduate of WAAPA, and worked as a freelance lighting designer, production manager and creative producer in the early stages of his career.

As a disabled man, Jeremy is a fierce advocate of celebrating difference and transforming attitudes which ‘other’ people in our community. He also promotes actions to ensure these values are central to our arts, cultural and creative industries.

Jeremy loves his ‘anti-bio’ – far more impressive than this dull, corporate overview – and he strongly encourages you to take time to read it  here.