We are thrilled to welcome Candy Bowers as our new Programming Manager.

Candy will be leading a bold and compelling artistic program that challenges and reimagines our prevailing cultural narratives, together with artists and communities. As an artist and activist, she has been a powerful voice for change. Candy comes to the role with a wealth of experience as a producer, writer, performer and radical mischief-maker.

Born of South African political refugees on the lands of the Bunurong People in the Kulin Nation, Candy has worked in a community context throughout her wild and dynamic career across organisations like Footscray Community Arts Centre (VIC), Powerhouse Youth Theatre (NSW), Contact Inc (QLD), Nkyinkka Nyunyu (NT), Campbelltown Arts Centre (NSW) and Arts Centre Melbourne (VIC). In 2018 she was awarded the Green Room Association: Geoffrey Milne Contribution to Independent Theatre Award and took part in the British Council of the Arts UK Peer Mentorship Program: Intersect. Candy brings with her a swag of experience producing internationally acclaimed work for the stage as the Co-Artistic Director of Black Honey Company (2012- 2019); and bringing diverse voices to the screen via mentorships with Screen Australia, Australians In Film and Arena Media.

We are excited to go on this next journey with Candy, in particular, as we set our sights on MAV’s new flagship festival, Almaviva.

Image credit: Candy Bowers. Photograph by Emma Numan