Staff
Suzi Cordell - Festival Director
With over 30 years experience working in the arts and culture and community development sector, I continually witness first hand the powerful impacts on individuals as artists, production teams and audience and communities as a whole, and Clunes Booktown is a prime example.
Broadly my experience lies across all aspects of arts management, community development, and education, and I’ve worked with incredible teams to deliver a diverse range of projects and programs in Victoria and interstate, across the creative industries. Including but not limited to – leadership roles in programming, project management, production and logistics management, stakeholder management and relationship building, predominantly with NFP organisations, Regional Arts Victoria, Multicultural and Indigenous orgs, local and state governments, with a genuine passion for working in regional arts, supporting artists of all ages and across multiple disciplines.
I have previous roles with Creative Clunes
- Turn the Page Producer 2021 – COVID19 modified
- Acting Manager, Creative Clunes ‘21 – ‘22
- Creative Producer Booktown 2022 – programming and responsibility across all creative aspects of the Festival (Kids Village, Music, Roving Entertainment, etc)
Vision for 2025 Festival
I am very excited to have been invited by the Creative Clunes Board to be part of the Booktown ‘25 team and oversee the overall delivery and production of the festival. Of course nothing happens in isolation, and I strongly believe in an inclusive and diverse workplace, and program, developing strong relationships and partnerships through consultation and collaboration, communication and joy!
We have an exciting and experienced team with creatives, logistics and production, marketing and finances all working with the community orgs and the volunteers, with everyone bringing their expertise to the table with open hearts and good will, looking to the future.
Booktown is a significant event for Clunes and the wider community – and indeed internationally. It has a well earned place as the leasing cultural home in Regional Victoria, standing uniquely as an event that celebrates the books as well as authors and associated artists. I recognise and respect those founding mothers and fathers who have come before, and continue to support Booktown, and the subsequent teams who have set a strong vision with high standards to meet.
Angela Crocombe - Program Manager
Angela Crocombe is a long-term book industry professional who has worked as a sales representative, publicist and in foreign rights at publishing companies, including Penguin and Black Inc.
She has a Graduate Diploma in Publishing and Editing, as well as completing the RMIT course in Professional Writing.
She has worked at Readings bookshops in Melbourne since 2011 and was the founding manager of Readings Kids in Carlton. Angela is also the author of two non-fiction books on sustainable living and thirteen educational books for primary school students.
She was a judge in the Writing for Young Adults category in the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards for 2024.
SHaron Hughes - Administration
Thank Yous!
Pauline O’Shannessy-Dowling
Pauline’s love of colour, detail, pattern and design, drive her drawing & illustrative practice, along with her desire to create a personal visual language using original motifs and symbols. Pauline’s practice is based in the art of drawing, whimsy and colour, combining all three to explore her designs on paper, fashion garments and home furnishings.
“Books Are Awesome!” began its life as a sketch that lay dormant for a while highlighting Fraser St.
“ I have used the “Urban Landscape” style that I am known for. The difference with this piece is the super-colourful background & extra decorative elements. It was such a wonderful piece to work on, I let my fear of failure go & just drew from my heart & soul — in a way that just felt right to me. “
Lost Ones Gallery & Makers Studio
14 Camp Street, Ballarat Central VIC 3350
paulineoshannessydowling.com.au
Artwork : Books Are Awesome!
Creative Clunes is thankful to Pauline for allowing us the use of her artworks, as we feel they convey the spirit of Clunes and our Booktown Festival.
Creative Clunes
Creative Clunes is an incorporated charity that is included in the Australian Register of Cultural Organisations (ROCO). Our flagship events are: the annual Clunes Booktown Festival, and the bi-annual Clunes Ceramic Awards, the monthly Booktown on Sunday; we also run other artistic programs. We always looking for new projects and ideas to support creatives in and around Clunes!
Board of Creative Clunes
Nick Bassett — Chair/Secretary
Jacqui Horwood — Deputy Chair
Warren Wiggins — Treasurer
Shelley Hinton
Dayle Betts
Linda Newitt Scull
Founders
Tess Brady
Tim Hayes (d)
Graeme Johnstone (d)
Linda Newitt Scull
Life Members
Tess Brady
Tim Hayes (d)
Graeme Johnstone (d)
Linda Newitt Scull
Richard Gilbert
Joanne Love
John Griffin
Clunes Booktown Festival
The Clunes Booktown Festival is a Creative Clunes Inc initiative and is a member of the International Organisation of Booktowns. Creative Clunes is also responsible for the presentation of the Biennial Clunes Ceramics Award. Creative Clunes Inc is a vibrant hub that supports making, telling and sharing stories.
Logistics Team
Nick Bassett
Dayle Betts
Andrew Cations
Iain Gallagher
Production Team
Nick Bassett — Acting CEO
Jon Hawkes — CFO
Sharon Hughes and Fiona Shields — Administration Support
Program Manager — Angela Crocombe
Music Program — Linda Newitt Scull & Harry Newitt
Security — Malcolm Hull
Volunteer Coordinator —
Jen Audsley and Kerrie Gamble
Social Media — Caitlin Reilly, InCahoots
Marketing — Michelle Edmunds & Clare Coulter, Banksia
Festival Identity and Design — Justin & Jacinta Weyers, Picture Thinking Co
Photographer — (TBC)
Extra Special Thanks to:
Attitude
Clunes Agricultural Society
Clunes CFA
Clunes Football & Netball Club
Clunes Golf Club
Clunes Museum
Clunes Neighbourhood House
Clunes Writing Group
Clunes Young Farmers
Creswick Scouts
Central Highlands Water
Michael Lowrie
Steve Kinnersly
Stu Vaskess
Union Bank Arts Centre
Wesley @ Clunes Staff and Students
And to all our wonderful volunteers and the Clunes community who provide their considerable support throughout the year and especially during the Booktown Festival.