Proximity Festival is an artist run initiative and is currently led by Sarah Rowbottam and Kelli McCluskey. During the Festival we expand with a team of casual employees and volunteers. A peer based curatorial committee guides the artistic program with the Curators.
SARAH ROWBOTTAM
Co-founder, Director, Co-Curator
Sarah Rowbottam is a curator and producer working across international festivals, performance and interdisciplinary development platforms. She co-founded Proximity in 2012 and has co-curated four Festivals at the Art Gallery of WA (2015), Fremantle Arts Centre (2014), PICA (2013) and The Blue Room Theatre (2012). Sarah has been part of the Perth International Arts Festival team since 2007, most recently as Creative Producer for Museum of Water by Amy Sharrocks (2017-2018). She was Producer for PICA’s Performance Program in 2016 and Associate Producer at Performing Lines WA 2012-14. She has been supported by the JUMP National Mentorship program, the IETM-Australia Council Collaboration Project and has sat on advisory panels for Australia Council, The Blue Room Theatre, Paper Mountain and the National Experimental Arts Forum. Sarah is Creative Producer for Ecosexual Bathhouse by Pony Express, recently presented at Next Wave Festival Melbourne, Liveworks Performance Space Sydney, Dark Mofo Tasmania, Reckless Acts PICA Perth, Santarcangelo Festival Italy. She was Curator for the 2016 and 2017 Disrupted Festival of Ideas at the State Library of WA featuring over 100 speakers and artists including Waleed Aly, Susan Carland and Liam Young.
KELLI MCCLUSKEY
Co-founder, Co-Curator
Kelli McCluskey is an artist and co-founder of tactical media art group pvi collective who make participatory artwork in cities and urban environments that disrupted everyday life. In 2016 Kelli received the prestigious ‘outstanding achievement in emerging and experimental arts’ award from the Australia Council for the Arts for her work within the sector. Kelli has toured extensively with pvi’s critically acclaimed performances throughout Australia and internationally. Kelli is an advocate for live art and experimental practice and it’s growth in Australia. She is on the board of NAVA (National association for the visual arts), and has mentored a host of emerging practitioners through pvi as well as state and federal initiatives such as spark youth arts, splendid arts, situate arts in festivals and Australia’s first one-on-one performance festival, Proximity Festival which she co-founded in 2012. Trained in performance art and media Kelli researches, writes and directs for pvi and initiated the Perth based artist led cia studios [centre for interdisciplinary arts] which she co-manages with pvi.
2017
Guest Provocateur
Jeff Khan, Artistic Director Performance Space
Artists
Cigdem Aydemir (NSW), Mike Bianco (USA/WA), Hannah Brontë (QLD), Liam Colgan (WA), Martyn Coutts (VIC), Rachael Dease (WA), Jen Jamieson (WA), Nat Randall (NSW), Tyrone Robinson (WA)
Lab Co-Facilitators
Kelli McCluskey, Sarah Rowbottam, Jeff Khan, Sensorium Theatre
Producer Megan Roberts
Production Manager Benjamin Kontoolas
Online Marketing Coordinator Tim Green
Operations & FOH Jess Harlond-Kenny
Design & Photography PAVLOVA
2015
Guest Provocateur
Helen Cole, In Between Time Festival UK
Artists
Chloe Flockart (WA), Malcolm Whittaker (NSW), Mish Grigor (NSW), Jackson Eaton (VIC), Tom Blake (WA), Phillip Adams (VIC), Mei Saraswati (WA), Caroline Garcia (NSW), Leon Ewing (WA), Emily Parsons-Lord (NSW), Brett Smith (WA), Jo Bannon (UK)
Lab Co-Facilitators
Kelli McCluskey, Sarah Rowbottam, Sensorium Theatre, DADAA
Curatorium
Helen Cole (In Between Time UK), Robert Cook (Art Gallery of WA), Jeff Khan (Performance Space), Georgie Meagher (Next Wave Festival), Emma Webb (Vitalstatistix), and independent practitioners James Berlyn and Dr David Williams.
2014
Guest Provocateur
Julie Vulcan, Artist Sydney
Artists
James Berlyn (WA), Caroline Garcia (NSW), Jen Jamieson (WA), Cat Jones (NSW), Loren Kronemeyer (USA), Tanya Lee (WA), Emily Parsons-Lord (NSW), Sylvia Rimat (UK), Hallie Shellam (VIC), Ian Sinclair (WA), Alina Tang (WA), Toyi-Toyi Theatre (WA).
Lab Co-Facilitators
James Berlyn, Steve Bull, Kelli McCluskey, Sarah Rowbottam, Sensorium Theatre
Curatorium
Jeff Khan (Performance Space), Fiona Winning (Sydney Festival), Ric Spencer (Fremantle Arts Centre), Robert Cook (Art Gallery of WA), Leigh Robb (PICA), and independent practitioners Dr David Williams, Julie Vulcan and Martyn Coutts.
2013
Guest Provocateur
Kelli McCluskey
Artists
Humphrey Bower (WA), Loren Kronemyer (USA), Elise Reitze (WA), Cat Jones (NSW), Rachel Arianne Ogle (WA), Ian Sinclair (WA), Janet Pettigrew (WA), Leon Hendroff /Emma Craig (WA), Sarah Elson (WA), Moya Thomas (WA), Janet Carter (WA), Daniel Nevin (WA)
Lab Co-Facilitators
James Berlyn, Kelli McCluskey, Sarah Rowbottam, Sensorium Theatre, Jen Jamieson
2012
Provocateur
Kelli McCluskey
Artists
Claudia Alessi (WA), James Berlyn (WA), Janet Carter (WA), Renae Coles (WA), Russya Connor (WA), Jackson Eaton (WA), Jen Jamieson (WA), Nikki Jones (WA), Janette McGinty (WA), Sarah Nelson (WA), Sarah Rowbottam (WA), Helen Russo (WA)