One of the great misconceptions I had when I embarked on a career in the arts was the idea that there would be a linear and upwards trajectory of achievement. It was a misconception which assumed that there was a natural order, a natural progression to developing as an artist… one which I have since wholeheartedly thrown out.

I don’t necessarily believe that there is a natural pathway for artists… perhaps for some there may be the smooth and predictable progression from school-yard encouragement to formal education due to main stage success… but for me it’s been a very interesting, logistical challenge of following my curiosity into unknown caverns and daring to have at the heart of any strategy regarding my career or art making a few slices of advice from Shakespeare: “to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man” and from Wilde: “One should never do anything that one cannot talk about after dinner…”

So armed with two quotes and not really much of a plan, but to let art inform, guide and inspire my life I’ve followed my curiosity… and here I am.

A dappled life full of projects and people and art which has informed who I am. Not all beautiful, certainly not easy, but a deepening realisation that to be an artist is an involuntary impulse, but to pursue a life which is dedicated to art takes fortitude, energy, adaptability, forgiveness, resilience, vulnerability, patience/impatience, sensitivity, strength, gratitude and a certain amount of kamikazi chutzpah.

Looking back over 2012, the year ended very differently to my early year prediction/map/attempt at a strategy different to “following my curiosity.” And I must admit that I’m grateful for the year that was.

2013 is quite different and this is a post which is about what’s inspiring/keeping me curious so far this year…

I’m still as ever honoured and excited to be a part of the team at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre – Check it out HERE – and pinch myself every morning when I walk in to the centre to be working with such passionate and engaged people… everyday I am learning something new about art, about people, about politics and culture: and I’ve made a commitment to being in love with my workplace and cheering on the excellent staff I’m working for…

I’ve also continued my involvement on the Board of Directors at Shopfront Contemporary Arts for Under 25s – as a place where all young people, regardless of background are encouraged to express themselves, develop a sense of passionate engagement with their community, the world and define themselves through a highquality art experience. Shopfront is one of Australia’s longest running cooperatives… Check it out HERE –

JANUARY was a fascinating month of Sydney Festival and other Summertime art adventures, I had the great fortune of being the guest of by best friend Sally who was interning at the Sydney Festival, bumping into great minds, beautiful artists and inspiring individuals who make up a really beautiful fabric of the Sydney artistic community… I saw some fantastic works most notably Concrete and Bones which I wrote about for www.australianstage.com

FEBRUARY was full of activity of an invisible kind… Script development Meetings with Cheryl Ward for her beautiful portrait of Australian Nurses in World War I called “Through These Lines” which you can learn about HERE And working with one of my favourite emerging writers Grace De Morgan on her play to watch “Modern Warfare.” (What is it with me and war-themed plays?)

On the other side of the world in Canada a musical I co-wrote with Barbara Bryce and Sue Smith performed to a sold out crowd of kiddies… I of course missed it… but loved hearing the updates of my jokes and ideas making kids laugh…

Also in February I met the Governor General who came to visit a very impressive exhibition put together by the curatorial team at CPAC – the Onside exhibition: exploring issues facing women in sport through an arts and cultural lens.

Some banter in February from Neil Gaiman in response to a disgruntled writer who was resenting libraries/ my friends giving away their books now they have kindles/ my fear of not being able to examine the internal world of potential suitors via their bookcases if books were to be abandoned lead to a fun and curious Twitter game #BookcaseLove & #BookShelfLove Which then, with the combined aesthetic/entrepreneurial/altruistic powers of Leigh Russell and Kathy Luu has evolved into a project called Hello Bookcase a website to foster and encourage reading.. check it out HERE

MARCH The launch of the Seymour Centre’s Reginald Season in which my next multi-playwright project “Singled Out” which is not surprisingly still developing… Only to say there will be a collection of beautiful and daring playwrights from across Sydney leaping into the unknown of what it means to live alone…

Jennifer White and I stunned a few High School teachers at the recent NSW Drama Conference with a remount of Ned Manning’s play “SexEd”… I don’t think some of those teachers have ever seen anything like what we showed them… to find out more Ned’s Play can be purchased in this excellent anthology of works by The 7 On Playwrights. Find out more HERE

Development started on Melita Rowston’s upcoming show which is based on her real life hunt to find out what Gippsland’s Giant Earthworm could teach her about life and living. We will be announcing it’s Times/Date/Venue/Ticket Prices very soon) Check it out HERE

I presented a mini-keynote at BoardConnect’s Creative Leadership Symposium at the end of March… which I geared towards the importance of passion, love and a commitment to robust discussion in the boardroom. Check out the work David Fishel and BoardConnect HERE

I sat on Shopfront’s Civic Life residency panel interviewing artists and feeling inspired and in awe of the young makers coming up and through Shopfront… (Artists yet to be announced…)

APRIL has been only a a spot of play reading for PlayWriting Australia. I recently gave an interview/photo shoot for the Spectrum section of the SMH on philanthropy in the Arts – which I anticipate will be out this month – let’s hope I said something coherent (?!?).

I also will be dipping my toes back into blogging (LOOK?!!? See I’m doing it now!) and lining up some cool arts folk for Hello Bookcase… starting with conquering my bookshelf selfie…

I head into rehearsal for Katie Pollock’s BasketCase staring Eloise Snape for recording at Eastside radio’s Sonic Tales series: find out more HERE

I will also be busy with all things Powerhouse and intend on conquering my inbox… which is a major accomplishment… also maintaining my pom poms and cheerleading of all the staff at CPAC who maybe the coolest bunch of people I know…

MAY has a three week festival of monologues called “1…2… 3” by some of my favourite Australian playwrights (To Be Announced). Working with the 7-On Playwrights and curated/produced by Jeremy Waters with works I am re-mounting and some I’m directing… this is a festival of interesting and eclectic works which reflect our some of Australia’s most interesting and eclectic writers… this is a hot project and of course always keen to hear from writers…

End of May I will be at Australian Theatre Forum in my capacity as Assistant Director of CPAC – with the occasional industry related blog post and Facebook/Twitter quips and observations… to find out more about the forum check it out HERE.

JUNE Keeping focused on my CPAC duties and on the weekend/evenings I’ll start Singled Out’s development… stay tuned for the writers on board… actors on board… artists and musicians circulating…

JULY I’ll be doing my thing at CPAC and on weekends will be in rehearsal for Melita Rowston’s Earthworm Show… and chasing deadlines for Singled Out… Doing my laundry… attending shows and blogging when I can…

AUGUST Distracted by worms and scripts and a humble adventure… whilst keeping my feet firmly placed at CPAC and my head down…

SEPTEMBER is rehearsal of Singled Out ready for opening in October at the Seymour Centre

OCTOBER Is a time of Pacific celebration at CPAC… and that is so exciting! I will open Singled Out and I’ll turn 34 and will have learned how to manage my laundry… I also may decide to let go of my ancient car who’s 33 birthday will be in October… but still not sure…

NOVEMBER and DECEMBER are a time of festivity, focus and seeing shows and visiting family…

Yes it is a big year a head and I am very conscious that some of this may change and develop and reconfigure as the year progresses… And this should be noted, that I have always, always always had a day job along side my artistic, blogging, writing plays, tweeting/facebooking, creative producing, directing, panel speaking: so its not new really… the big difference this year is that I am more invested in my day job than ever before – and this year is about learning how to balance all the interesting things in my life – and how to manage to keep my laundry under control…