As a public art curator, and cultural strategist, Merran’s expertise includes the development of public art for a wide range of landscape, architectural and urban infrastructure projects. She has commissioned, curated and managed the delivery of public art in Surfers Paradise, Bondi Beach, Darling Harbour, Byron Bay, Sydney CBD and in Vancouver, Canada. More recently she has specialized in public art strategies and activation plans or TfNSW rail precincts, to strategically integrate public art into station architecture and local neighbourhoods. Merran’s curatorial philosophy is ‘place based’, which draws on the heritage of the place and integrating ephemeral and permanent art with cultural planning outcomes. Extensive project management experience has resulted in innovative and cost effective approaches to art delivery, which include specialized community and audience engagement processes. She works with artists in creative and collaborative conversation to generate culturally vibrant and socially activated public spaces.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• Commissioned over 75 works of architectural art in the private and public sector selecting, mentoring and commissioning artists. This includes clients such as Qld Government’s Art Built in Programme, ANU, Waverley Council, Vic Health, Bovis Lend Lease, Laing O’Rourke, Landcom,
Qld Dept Education.
• Art consultant to Transport for NSW 2009-2017
• 5 Years in local government arts and cultural policy including City of Sydney, Senior Policy Officer in
Cultural Affairs and Protocol.
• Art consultant on urban master planning bids including Wynyard Walk, Barangaroo Central, Gold Coast Cultural Centre with Studio Libeskind, NY.
• Played a key role in establishing public art in TfNSW infrastructure projects.
• Extensive experience in stakeholder management as Place Manager for NSW Heritage Branch, Dept Planning.
• Keynote address UNESCO ICOMOS Conference on public art in heritage interpretation.
• Curated 5 outdoor sculpture exhibitions;
• Founding board member of Arts Northern Rivers Set up two not-for-profits to administer cultural
development projects in Northern Rivers, NSW.
• 10 years as a licensed pyrotechnic for festivals & events.
