A message from our Board

2 December 2022

After 5 years, our inaugural Executive Director Robyn Gawenda will be stepping down in February 2023.

Robyn joined Footscray Community Arts in March 2018 as General Manager, was appointed Acting CEO in May 2019 and Executive Director and Co-CEO in September 2019 following the adoption of a Co-CEO model.

Over five years, Robyn has led transformational change across our business, partnerships, operations, culture and venue. These changes have been underpinned by Robyn’s commitment to our values and vision that all communities are valued as makers of culture. Major achievements during Robyn’s tenure include development of a new strategic plan, our transformation as one of the only mainstream arts organisations to register and be sustainable as an NDIS provider, strengthened relationships with community, government and industry partners, securing multi-year support from local, state and federal government, and most recently, securing $8.7 million to invest in our cultural precinct following many years of research, planning and advocacy.

On behalf of the Footscray Community Arts Board, Chair of Footscray Community Arts Julia White said “Robyn’s capacity and strategic vision has significantly added to our stable and strong foundations, and her embodiment of our values has been unwavering. The impact of the last three years has been profound on so many levels. Our co-CEOs have shouldered so much as we navigated through the many upheavals caused by the covid pandemic. They have taken opportunities to move us forward, while also working tirelessly to keep our staff and communities employed, engaged, valued and nurtured. We are proud to have worked alongside Robyn in promoting a strong creative economy in the west, and will miss her energy, generosity, and sense of humour.  We wish her well in her next steps and look forward to her bright future.”

Robyn said “it has been the greatest privilege of my professional life to hold a space of leadership for five years at Footscray Community Arts. I am grateful to have worked alongside our Elders in Residence, Indigenous Advisory Group, passionate team members and the many artists and stakeholders. My focus has been on positioning Footscray Community Arts as the leading cultural precinct in the west. We made remarkable strides by securing $8.7 million to invest in the future of the precinct and in the next generation of cultural leadership. I am excited for the next leader to inject new energy and passion into this remarkable place.”

Footscray Community Arts will begin the recruitment process for a new Executive Director and Co-CEO in early 2023.

For all media enquiries please contact: brooke@footscrayarts.com