Executive Director Arts Development
Rose Hiscock
My earliest childhood memories are dancing nude to my Aunt Elsa's 'creative dance piano medleys'. Aunty, as she was known, was an opera singer and teacher at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium. She was instrumental in getting song books into the school curriculum and for filling our house with music. With Aunty's encouragement and later disdain, I progressed through the piano, the trumpet and the French horn, leaving a trail of broken teachers and resounding proof I was a lousy musician. I did however learn to love the energy and creativity of artists.
At university I studied commerce because I thought it would lead to a job...any job. I learnt economics during the day and spent nights participating in every drama production I could find. I was responsible for the near demise of one of Barrie Kosky's first student productions, Elektra, by dissolving into convulsive fits of giggles. Luckily I was disguised in a swimming cap, white makeup and a pile of leaves for most of the performance.
After a very short interval in banking, I realised that a job was only useful if you enjoyed it, and set out to work in the arts. My career has been marked by a strong belief in broad and accessible engagement. I recently moved from Melbourne, where I worked for Museum Victoria, which has been enormously successful in building a community that regularly visits and loves what it has to offer. I think that working in the arts is all about hearts and minds. And seeing good art makes me feel like I am a little kid running nude.
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