Management Committee

  

Rebecca Renshaw - Chair

Rebecca Renshaw has worked for the past 19 years with industry specialists, museum staff, educators and artists. Her in-depth experience spans public programs, education, visitor services, membership, volunteering, marketing and communications and governance for the gallery, museum and arts sector. Renshaw has a Bachelor of Ceramic Design from Monash University and a Masters of Arts Management from the University of Melbourne. She has worked for Heide Museum of Modern Art in Melbourne and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Currently she is employed as the Communications Manager for Artback NT and Business Manager for the Art Association of Australia and New Zealand.

  


Photo: Helen Orr

Jocelyn Tribe - Vice-chair

Jocelyn is a Darwin based printmaker with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Victorian College of the Arts. She has extensive experience in cross-cultural art projects, from urban to remote communities and is committed to the growth of the arts sector in the Northern Territory. She has worked across Indigenous, refugee, mental health and non-Indigenous contexts expanding on community development from a creative and collaborative perspective. She encourages the practice of art to be invitational and trauma-informed while being dedicated to creating spaces that are accessible, inclusive and person-centered.

She believes that mindfulness and heartfulness actions such as art making have a profound potential for both personal and interpersonal healing. Jocelyn is honoured to have the opportunity to be a Management Committee member and is also humbled to have been nominated by the members of Tactile Arts to join in the development of such an important space that holds many possibilities for social change.

 

 

Sarah Lacy - Secretary

Sarah Lacy has been a member of Tactile Arts (TA) for 6 years and was proudly elected on to the Management Committee in 2019, a good fit since she is passionate about both handicrafts and good governance. In 2020 Sarah increased her responsibility becoming TA’s Secretary and Public Officer.

Sarah recently worked as a governance advisor for five years, working to build strength and stability in Aboriginal corporations by advising and upskilling directors in governance and management. This involved running workshops and supporting processes around good decision-making, board responsibilities, strategic planning, and financial management.

Sarah holds a Masters in Social Science (International Development), a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Policy Development and a Bachelor of Arts (Fashion Design). Sarah has a long history of working with and supporting grassroots, community organisations.

After a long hiatus from designing clothes, Sarah found inspiration in becoming a mum to launch a bright and colourful range of clothing and accessories specifically designed for babies and kids living in the tropics. Sarah designs and crafts all items from her home in Darwin. Since its launch in 2017, Xan and Gran has been a staple at the Tactile Arts craft fairs.

Darwin and the Top End has such a rich tapestry of local artisans and handcrafters and Sarah is proud to be part of the leadership team with Tactile Arts, the key body supporting this vibrant community of artists.

 

Will Crawford - Treasurer 

Will comes to the Tactile Arts board with extensive governance and legal experience during his 20+ years of legal experience and 15 years of being a board member.

Will is currently the Senior Project Manager with the Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation, and his current roles includes providing governance support services to multiple Aboriginal corporations.

Will was a legal advisor in the Northern Land Council’s legal division for over 3 years where he was responsible for providing governance advice and secretariat support to over 20 ORIC listed Aboriginal corporations, he was also formerly a lawyer in the Corporate Advisory Group at Blake Dawson Waldron (now Ashurst).

Will also has extensive cross-cultural communication and legal training experience and expertise in Aboriginal and adult learning pedagogies. Will was the coordinator of the Legal Education, Training and Projects team at the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) from 2011-2015.

In addition Will brings his experience as a board member of various Not For Profit NGOs including Tactile Arts (where he currently serves as Treasurer), Environmental Defenders’ Office NT (Chairperson July 2017- 2019 and Board Member November 2015 – 2019), Criminal Lawyers Association of the Northern Territory (Committee member 2013-2015), Carlton Parkville Financial Counselling Service (Board member March 2007 - October 2008) and Youthlaw (Young People’s Legal Rights Centre) )Board member Nov 2005 - October 2008).

 

Annie Gastin - General Member

Professional experience:
Qualified Secondary Arts and Crafts teacher – Melbourne State College/University Taught primarily ‘disadvantaged’ teenagers – Collingwood Victoria 10 years
Singer - rock, jazz and blues Melbourne and NT over 45 years
Aboriginal Studies tutor Alice Springs 1 year
Actor 5+ years
ABC Broadcaster 14 years
ESL volunteer teaching casual

And now I’m a hobby ceramicist, after taking a course at TA and never looking back!

Been a member of Tactile Arts for around 6/7 years.

In that time a very regular user of the ceramics studio.

Volunteering - using my media experience and contacts to promote TA, TA Fairs, Exhibitions and various individual artists

- writing press releases for events and artists
- helping with website copy (occasionally)
- parliament house shop (casually)
- general helping out with exhibitions/clean-ups etc.

Spending around 4 out of 5 days per week ‘pottering’ around TA, I get to meet and befriend a lot of members, I get a pretty good look at how the place works and areas where I think we might be able to improve. Thought I’d put my hat in the ring after all these years.

Looks like there might be quite a few good people interested in being a board member, but I’m happy to give my services if you think I can provide another perspective that may be beneficial.

 

Dawn Beasley - General Member

I have over 20 years’ experience as an artist, an arts educator and an arts administrator working in medium to large organisations internationally and here in Darwin. These roles have equipped me with experience in all aspects of leadership, management and governance including but not limited to:

  • Strategic planning

  • Finances, resource management

  • Staff professional development

  • Event management

  • Gallery and studio management

  • The equipping and maintaining of studios and assets

  • Policy and practice documentation

  • Compliance to constitutions, company and government policies

More importantly, I have been an active member of Tactile Arts for over 6 years. I am a current studio hirer and have relevant experience as a craft fair stall holder, a shop volunteer, an exhibitor, an artist-in-residence and I am just about teach the first of several workshops. As such I have experienced all the different aspects of the organisation and feel well placed to represent members’ interests. I understand the need for transparency and excellent communication between the committee and the members that it represents. I believe firmly in the value of Tactile Arts as a members’ association promoting and working for the benefit of local artists and craftspeople.

As a practicing artist I also have a good understanding of the grant application process having successfully gained a Churchill fellowship for Excellence in the Visual Arts, and a grant from the Australian Council for the Arts.
 

Gail Carnes - General Member

I served as the Chair of the management committee from 2018 to 2020, a challenging period in the history of Tactile Arts. During this time I worked to re-build the organisation, to upgrade facilities and equipment, and to restore the organisation’s standing with its members, funding bodies and the wider community. In doing so, I drew upon more than 30 years of experience in the arts, including performing arts, major events, visual arts and youth arts and my expertise in community and member relations, stakeholder engagement and grant writing. I believe strongly in the power of the arts to engage, challenge and inspire us as individuals and to enhance and uplift the communities in which we live.
I currently work for the Northern Territory Government as the manager for economic development in the Top End region. In this role I lead a team of specialists in supporting businesses and not-for-profit enterprises, including arts organisations and art centres, across the region through a range of grant programs and other business and workforce development initiatives. In my free time I enjoy ceramics, making things with my 3D printer and volunteering at exhibition openings and craft fairs.

 

Staff

 

General Manager

Tessa Duke

Tess has more than 15 years’ experience working in the arts as an artist, business owner and arts administrator.

Following completion of her training in traditional stained glass, Tess went on to specialise in the field of conservation, working in ecclesiastic and public buildings throughout Melbourne, VIC until 2015.

During this time Tess developed her own creative business and was extensively involved in the establishment of a not-for-profit association formed to promote contemporary architectural glass and to provide support to emerging artists working in this field.

After relocating to Darwin in 2016 Tess joined Tactile Arts as Events Coordinator where she applied her skills in exhibitions, events, marketing and communications to the role.

She continued her association with the organisation as Vice-chair of the Management Committee while working at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, returning to take up the position of General Manager in 2019. 

Tess has brought valuable knowledge of operations to the leadership role, and she continues to provide a steadying influence on the organisation due to a strong emphasis on relationship development and a passion for supporting creatives working in the production of contemporary art and craft.

 

Programs and Administration Coordinator 

Ned Roberts

Ned is an arts administrator and artist with an interest in textiles, ceramics and illustration. He comes to us from the Sapphire Coast of NSW where he’s had extensive involvement in gallery operations and community arts organisations. He has a passion for promoting the arts and crafts as an integral part of daily life.

Ned has worked for four years with the Bega Valley Regional Gallery as gallery assistant and volunteer coordinator. His experience includes streamlining and maintaining administration procedures, managing and troubleshooting I.T platforms, designing marketing collateral and social media campaigns, implementing and managing community engagement events and workshop programs to activate strategic planning, all round staff and volunteer support, facility management, exhibition curation and installation.