Maureen Gardner

Head of School

Maureen Gardner took up the role of Head of Production with VCAM in 2008.
Originally from the Shetland Islands in the far north of Scotland, Maureen came to Australia in 1996 after 6 years studying and working in Edinburgh.  Maureen’s brings to her role a broad technical knowledge in all disciplines of the performing and visual arts including multi-media expression and inter-disciplinary site-specific scene making.
Since coming to Melbourne, Maureen has worked extensively on the Festival circuit, in particular with Melbourne International Arts Festival where for 10 years she managed all technical and logistical aspects of the Festival and where she had the privilege of working with some of the most inspiring artists and artistic directors from Australia and internationally.
Maureen holds a senior leadership position within the arts festival community in Australian and internationally, and across the Melbourne arts presenter network in both the cultural and commercial sectors.  She is passionate about supporting artists to realise their vision through concept development in visual and spatial dimensions.  She believes that in this age of visual culture the synergies of art, design and technology offer an unparalleled opportunity for those who can create, design, implement and manage.
The hallmark of Maureen’s practice is an inclusive and transparent communication and a collaborative problem-solving approach to ‘producing’ and it is these qualities she offers young and emerging production professionals at VCAM.
Technical & artistic collaborations include:
Ariane Mnouchkin & Teatre du Soleil – Le Denier Caravanserail
Robert Wilson Company – I La Galigo / Temptation of Saint Anthony
Chris Doyle – Ecstatic City
Big hArt – The bed Vigil / Knot @ Home / Radio Holiday
Romeo Castelucci & Societas Raffaello Sanzio – Genesi / Tragedia Endogonidia
Lakhaon Kaol – Weyreap’s Battle
Merce Cunningham Dance Company – The Melbourne Residency
Neil Thomas and the Museum of Modern Oddities – The Blue Thong / Blue Rinse Club
Patrice Warrener – Chromolithe
Wood Marsh Architecture – The Clubhouse
Neil McLachlan, Anton Hasell & Patrick Cronin – Federation Bells / 2001 Handbells