Thursday, 16 January, 2020 - 06:59
Black Swan appoints executive director
Rick Heath has been named executive director at Black Swan State Theatre Company, following controversy over sudden leadership changes at the organisation last year.
Rick Heath
Board Member / Chamber of Arts and Culture WA
Rick Heath has worked in the performing arts industry across Australia for over 25 years.
He is the director of Push Management, an arts management company that undertakes strategic business planning for creative organisations. Mr Heath was executive producer for the Perth International Arts Festival, and has fulfilled roles such as event operations manager at the Sydney Opera House and general manager of Buzz Dance Theatre. He has co-produced work with Black Swan Theatre Co and worked with companies such as WA Theatre Company, Dance North (Townsville), Chrissie Parrot Dance Company, Country Arts WA, Barking Gecko Theatre Company, Perth Theatre Company and Australian Dance Theatre.
Mr Heath was chair of Steps Youth Dance Company for eight years, chair of AusdanceWA, project facilitator for the Contemporary Dance Model Development project [Future Moves], member and chair of the Dance and Physical Theatre panel for the Helpmann awards from 2004 to 2013, and a member of the Regional Touring panel for four years. He is an authority on performing arts touring in Australia, having been intimately involved in national touring through his work as a ‘Blue Heeler’, whilst touring consultant at Arts on Tour NSW and as both a councillor and interim executive officer of the Performing Arts Touring Alliance [PATA]. Together with Harley Stumm, Mr Heath wrote Australia’s first National Touring Framework for the Australia Council for the Arts.
He is also a champion for cultural advocacy, particularly strategic audience development and engagement.
Mr Heath graduated from the WA Academy of Performing Arts in Stage Management and holds a Bachelor of Business in Marketing.
