Overview
For the third Arts Funders Network meeting for 2025 we will hear from Creative Australia with an update on their new initiatives for 2025.
Jayne Lovelock and Gillian Mercer, Directors at Creative Australia will outline these new initiatives supporting innovative approaches to encourage philanthropy and investment in support of creativity. In 2025 Creative Australia will introduce a new sector-wide nation-wide giving day, and a new impact investment fund for the Creative Industries. We will also hear about the Australian Cultural Fund and opportunities for philanthropy to directly support Australian artists.
The launch this year of both this national giving day and foundational support for impact investment marks a meaningful evolution in how Creative Australia encourages both public and private engagement in nurturing Australia’s creative economy.
Date and time
Tuesday 16 September 2025
11:30am - 12:30pm AEST (ACT, NSW, QLD, VIC)
11:00am - 12:00pm ACST (NT, SA)
9:30am - 10:30am AWST (WA)
Online event
Details will be provided after the registration is submitted. This session will not be recorded.
Audience
This event is for Philanthropy Australia Arts Funders Peer Network members. We welcome other funders at the New Gen, Engage (individual/organisation) or Impact membership levels who are funding or have interest in funding in the arts.
If you are a Connect level member and would like to upgrade to be able to attend funder peer networks, please reach out to membership@philanthropy.org.au.
If you are not yet a member of Philanthropy Australia or want to find out more about the philanthropic work in this area, please reach out to membership@philanthropy.org.au.
Speakers
 |
|
Gillian Mercer - Director, Business Development and Partnerships, Creative Australia
Adelaide arts leader Gillian Mercer is Creative Australia’s Director of Business Development and Partnerships. She oversees Creative Australia’s co-investment initiatives, cross-government portfolio advocacy, and private investment capability programs delivered by the five locally based State Manager Development and Partnerships. Her national role is spent between the organisation’s Sydney and Melbourne offices and her home in Adelaide.
|
| |
|
Mercer has worked at many of South Australia’s arts organisations for sustained periods of time and often at times of significant transformation.
Her more than 20 years in the Adelaide arts scene includes senior roles at Illuminate Adelaide (including staging the inaugural event), at the Art Gallery of South Australia launching the inaugural Tarnanthi and Ramsay Art Prize events, at Adelaide Festival and at Adelaide Fringe during each events’ annual transition, and reflecting her credentials in business and tourism, at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre and Adelaide Convention Bureau. She is also a former Chair of the Slingsby Theatre Company, a local children’s theatre company touring works globally.
Mercer is a longstanding advocate for the public value of arts and culture and the expansive scope for generative social value through arts engagement. She looks for opportunities to extend the public value of the cultural and creative industries working across-portfolios and in new ways.
|
 |
|
Jayne Lovelock - Director, Private Investment, Creative Australia
Jayne is currently Director of Private Investment at Creative Australia. In this role, she is responsible for developing models of public/private investment for arts and culture, including the creation of Australia's first impact investment fund for the creative industries. Jayne also oversees the Australian Cultural Fund which last year raised and distributed over $15 million in philanthropic support to Australian artists and arts organisations.
|
| |
|
Jayne began her career in the arts as a classical musician, after which she relocated to Paris to take up the role of Head of Development at Arts d’Australie (Paris). Since then, she has taken on leadership roles at Melbourne Fringe (CEO & Creative Director), Malthouse Theatre Company (Development Manager), Melbourne Theatre Company (Director of Development), and Creative Partnerships Australia (Executive Director, Research & Engagement). She has served as Chair of the City of Yarra Arts Advisory Committee, and held board positions for KAGE Dance Theatre, Fair Agenda, and the community radio station PBS FM.
With a Bachelor in Music and Arts and an MA in Arts Management, Jayne is also a graduate of Parsons School of Design (Paris), London Business School, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
|
Network Co-chairs
 |
|
Anna Nieuwenhuysen – Grant Manager, Besen Family Foundation
Anna Nieuwenhuysen is the Program Manager at the Besen Family Foundation. She leads the Foundation’s Arts & Culture Program, which supports independent artists and institutions across a diverse range of art forms including, dance, theatre, music, visual arts and community cultural development.
|
|
|
|
Anna joined the philanthropic sector after an extensive career in the arts across government, commercial and museum art institutions, including collection management at the National Gallery of Victoria in the International Decorative Arts department. |
|
|
|
Anna has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours, Art History) from the University of Melbourne and completed her postgraduate studies at Christie’s in London followed by an internship at The Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice. |
|
|
|
Anna also served as Cultural Adviser to the Australian High Commission in London where she steered the cultural diplomacy strategy to leverage the Australian Government’s international relations and policy priorities. |
 |
|
Louise Joel – Arts Program Manager, The Ian Potter Foundation
Louise Joel is the Arts Program Manager responsible for The Ian Potter Foundation’s Vibrant funding pillar, including The Ian Potter Cultural Trust, The Ian Potter Moving Image Commission, and the Foundation’s Arts program area. |
| |
|
Louise holds a Bachelor of Arts (Art History) from The University of Melbourne, a Master’s degree in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Manchester University (Singapore), and a Masters of Business Administration from The Australian Institute of Business.
|
| |
|
Prior to joining the Ian Potter Foundation in July 2022, Louise had worked for private galleries, auction houses, large public museums, in the government sector, and as an independent specialist arts business consultant.
|
Peer Network Lead
 |
|
Kim Harland - Director Engagement (QLD & NT), Philanthropy Australia
Kim has more than 20 years experience in the multi-generational family business and not-for-profit sectors in Queensland. She has a passion for proactive stakeholder outreach and engagement, connectivity and strategic partnerships/alliances.
|
| |
|
Prior to joining Philanthropy Australia, Kim established two businesses from the ground-up, one that continues as a premier independent family business advisory firm in Brisbane. She remains passionate about this space and how families in business use philanthropy to provide purpose for next generation members and as a catalyst for generational transition.
|
| |
|
Kim is dedicated to supporting the philanthropic visions of individuals and organisations in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
|
