Jamie-Lea Trindall, Executive Director of Outback Arts, has been named Chairperson of the Create NSW Artform Advisory Board and is diving headlong into the responsibilities, relishing the opportunity to represent her region's artists and communities along the way.

The Board was formed by the NSW state government in June 2019, and made up of arts and cultural leaders. Their purpose is to assess applications made to the Arts and Cultural Funding Program and to provide recommendations to the Minister on the strategic directions for the sector.

In September, Mrs Trindall was invited by the Minister for the Arts, the Hon Ben Franklin, to take on the Chairperson role, representing the Aboriginal Arts & Culture Board she has been a part of for the past three years.

This invitation saw Mrs Trindall taking over from internationally acclaimed playwright and artistic director Mr Wesley Enoch AM.

A Wailwan woman from Coonamble, Jamie Lea completed her schooling at Coonamble High School before heading off to Sydney to undertake a Bachelor of Art Education at the College of Fine Arts UNSW, with a major in Sculpture and a minor in Photography.

She immersed herself in Art Education, Aboriginal history and the research roles of arts workers.

In 2009 Jamie-Lea returned to her hometown to take on the role of Executive Director for Outback Arts, a not for profit arts organisation serving communities across the western plains region.

She is also a practising artist, exhibiting her woven works and ceramics in prestigious exhibitions from the Museum of Contemporary Art to the Venice Biennale.

Jamie Lea Trindall in the Coonamble Ceramics Studio. IMAGE: Koskela.com.au

Since taking up her new role with the Artform Advisory Board, Jamie Lea has attended meetings in Sydney to assess the most recent round of applications from groups around the state competiting for grants.

Mrs Trindall has also represented the Aboriginal Arts & Culture Board in a meeting with the Minister, joining representatives from the nine other artform specific boards that include well known names such as John Oddy - Contemporary Music, Karen Moses - FAICD Dance & Physical Theatre, Jennifer Byrne - Literature, Kim McKay AO - Museums & History, Simon Mordant AM - Visual Arts and more.

“It’s an exceptionally daunting role, I am very grateful for the opportunity to take a seat at the table with such extraordinary people," Mrs Trindall said.

"Funding assessments are rigorous and often difficult choices need to be made, I accepted the Chair's role with the support of a very strong Board as well as the support of the Outback Arts Board. I hope that I can represent the Artform Board well and highlight the strengths and challenges of our region in the process."

The recent refresh of Artform Boards has seen 19 new leaders from the arts and cultural sector appointed, adding fresh talent and perspectives to help shape the future of the State’s arts and cultural landscape.

Minister for the Arts, Ben Franklin, said the new board members encapsulate the expertise and diversity of the sector with new members representing education, government, and independent artists.

“I congratulate the new members on their appointment and acknowledge their invaluable expertise and passion. The members’ combined experience and drive will inject fresh energy to shape the future of NSW arts and culture,” Mr Franklin said.

The appointments bring the total number of board members to 97 across the 10 Artform Advisory Boards, regional areas are well represented with almost 30 per cent of members across the Boards being regional NSW.

For more information on the Artform Advisory Boards visit the Create NSW website at www.create.nsw.gov.au