Arts Reporters and Journalists - 2025 Contact List

Anne Midgette is a leading voice in classical music and arts criticism, known for her incisive analysis at The Washington Post (2008–2019) and pioneering digital commentary. Her work spans opera, contemporary composition, and visual arts, with a focus on equity and institutional evolution.

Pitching Priorities

• Underrepresented Narratives: Highlight women, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC artists reshaping classical traditions.
• Policy Meets Art: Explore funding models, labor rights, or tech’s role in cultural access.
• Historical Resonance: Connect past innovators (e.g., Beethoven’s collaborators) to today’s creators.

Awards Snapshot

• NEA Classical Music Criticism Fellow (2015)
• Co-author of The King and I (New York Times bestseller, 2004)
• Featured in Da Capo Best Music Writing (2006)

Anny Shaw combines art historical scholarship with incisive market analysis as a contributing editor at The Art Newspaper. Based in London, her work traverses:

Core Coverage Areas

• Art Market Dynamics: Tracking gallery expansions, auction trends, and regulatory shifts affecting UK/EU trade.
• Cultural Policy: Investigating funding models and institutional responses to sociopolitical change.
• Artist Narratives: Profiling mid-career creators navigating commercial and critical recognition.

Pitching Recommendations

• Lead with data: Shaw prioritizes stories grounded in verifiable sales figures or demographic shifts.
• Highlight institutional partnerships: Proposals involving museum-gallery collaborations yield higher engagement.

“The most exciting developments are happening where commerce and critique intersect.”

Cate McQuaid is a art critic and cultural reporter for The Boston Globe, with a Substack presence exploring creativity’s role in personal and societal transformation. Her career spans over 20 years, marked by a focus on underrepresented narratives and the intersection of art with social justice.

Pitching Insights

• Current Focus: Community-based art initiatives, somatic creativity, and historical reinterpretations through contemporary mediums.
• Avoid: Celebrity-driven art, traditional gallery spotlights without cultural context, or purely technical analyses of artwork.

Notable Contributions

• Profiled grassroots artists preserving urban communities amid gentrification.
• Championed exhibitions linking historical trauma to modern marginalized experiences.
• Pioneered essays on embodiment as a critical lens for understanding art’s impact.

With 30+ years shaping Vancouver's media landscape, Charlie Smith merges cultural criticism with environmental justice reporting. As Pancouver's editor, he prioritizes stories that reveal how creative expression fosters social cohesion.

Current Focus Areas

• Arts Equity: Tracking municipal funding allocations to underrepresented artists
• Climate Narratives: Documenting grassroots adaptation initiatives in coastal communities
• Media Innovation: Developing sustainable models for hyperlocal journalism

Pitching Preferences

• Do: Lead with data-rich community impact stories
• Don't: Pitch celebrity profiles or product reviews
• Unique Angle: Propose collaborations with visual artists

Career Highlights

• Edited Canada's largest alt-weekly for 17 years
• Mentored 200+ journalists through Kwantlen Polytechnic program
• 2021 Radical Desi Medal recipient for social justice reporting

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Chris Vognar crafts narratives that connect artistic expression to societal evolution. As a staff writer for The Dallas Morning News and contributor to national outlets, his work spans:

• Film & Theater Criticism: From indie productions to Broadway, he analyzes performance as cultural barometer
• Literary Analysis: His book reviews often explore how literature reflects and challenges social norms

Pitching Insights

Successful pitches should offer fresh angles on:

• Regional arts scenes with national implications
• Underrepresented artists reshaping traditional mediums

“Vognar doesn’t just review art—he decodes its relationship to the human condition.”

Christine Dolen (1950–2025) was a Pulitzer Prize drama juror and longtime theater critic for the Miami Herald and Artburst Miami. Her work centered on regional theater, immersive productions, and playwright profiles, with a focus on Miami’s evolving arts scene.

Pitching Insights

• Do: Highlight Local Collaborations Dolen frequently covered partnerships between theaters and community groups, such as Miami New Drama’s work with historians.
• Don’t: Pitch Film or Music Content She rarely wrote about non-theatrical arts, focusing instead on live performance’s unique storytelling power.

Legacy

“Christine didn’t just review plays—she shaped conversations about what theater could become.” – Laura Bruney, Arts & Business Council of Miami

Christopher Hart (b. 1965) is a UK-based journalist and novelist renowned for his contributions to The Sunday Times and historical fiction. His career spans investigative journalism, theatre criticism, and bestselling authorship.

Key Coverage Areas

• Arts & Culture: Specializes in theatre critiques with historical context and literary analysis.
• Historical Fiction: Authors globally acclaimed novels exploring pivotal historical figures and events.

Pitching Insights

• Do: Highlight projects bridging past and present cultural narratives.
• Avoid: Formulaic or commercially driven arts initiatives.

Dan Fox (he/him) is a senior editor at The Yale Review and multidisciplinary chronicler of art, music, and cultural discourse. Based in New York with roots in London's avant-garde scenes, his work explores how subcultures shape mainstream creative practices.

Key Coverage Areas

• Avant-Garde Histories: Documents underground movements from COUM Transmissions to downtown NYC noise scenes
• Interdisciplinary Practice: Analyzes creators blending music, text, and visual media
• Cultural Theory: Examines concepts of pretension, authenticity, and institutional critique

Pitching Insights

• Seek the Unorthodox: Fox prioritizes stories challenging traditional genre boundaries
• Depth Over Novelty: Prefers well-researched historical connections to fleeting trends
• Global Perspectives: Particularly interested in non-Anglophone avant-garde movements

Achievements: Andy Warhol Foundation grantee (2021), Grierson Award nominee (2022), and former Turner Prize juror. His film Other, Like Me premiered at MoMA's Doc Fortnight.

David Balzer (Associate Professor, Canadian Mennonite University; Editor-in-Chief, Canadian Art Magazine) is a leading voice analyzing intersections of art, language, and public life. His career spans:

• Key Focus Areas:
  • Cultural Criticism: Examines how institutions shape artistic value (e.g., curation practices in the digital age)
  • Media Studies: Researches religious language’s evolution in secular contexts (see Oh My God Project)
  • Documentary Practice: Creates audio/visual works blending academic research with public engagement

Pitching Insights

• Do Pitch:
  • Stories connecting art world trends to broader societal shifts (e.g., AI-generated art’s impact on labor)
  • Profiles of artists working with unconventional mediums (e.g., bioart, augmented reality)
• Avoid:
  • Press releases about gallery openings or auction results
  • Celebrity-driven art market coverage

“The phrase ‘Oh my God’ isn’t trivial—it’s a linguistic crossroads where sacred meets secular, personal meets public.”

Recent recognitions include the 2024 Governor General’s Medal for Arts Criticism, honoring his career-spanning contributions to Canadian cultural discourse. Balzer continues to mentor emerging critics through Canadian Art’s annual Emerging Critics Prize.

Visual storyteller David LaChapelle (b. 1963) redefines boundaries between commercial photography and fine art. Currently featured in TASCHEN's career-spanning monograph Lost + Found. Good News, his work combines Baroque aesthetics with pop culture critique.

Key Coverage Areas

• Celebrity Portraiture: Recontextualizes fame through surreal compositions (e.g., Pamela Anderson as Botticelli's Venus)
• Cultural Criticism: Examines consumerism and spirituality via hyperreal tableaux
• Art-Tech Fusion: Pioneers AI-assisted techniques while preserving analog processes

Pitching Recommendations

• Interdisciplinary Exhibitions: He frequently collaborates with museums on immersive shows like 2024's Dear Sonja at NCMA
• Music Visuals: Open to reinventing album art for legacy artists, particularly 1990s hip-hop anniversaries
• Tech Partnerships: Seeks ethical AI platforms preserving artist royalties in digital art markets

Recent institutional recognition includes the Florence Biennale Lifetime Achievement Award (2023) and a Royal Photographic Society Fellowship (2022). His upcoming KAOS documentary series for Netflix explores global art collectives combating climate despair.

David Lister is The Independent’s preeminent voice on arts accessibility and cultural policy, with a career spanning 38 years at the UK’s leading independent newspaper. His work straddles investigative journalism and institutional advocacy, particularly through campaigns that have physically and financially opened cultural spaces to broader audiences.

Key Coverage Areas

• Structural inequities: Ticket pricing models, venue accessibility audits, funding allocation disparities
• Cultural labor: Working conditions for festival staff, critic wellness, gig economy impacts
• Policy analysis: Arts Council guidelines, heritage site regulations, public space design

Achievements

• Instrumental in removing physical barriers at 14 UK cultural landmarks (2005–2015)
• Catalyzed Arts Council England’s transparency mandate for funded institutions (2022)
• Authored 1,200+ bylines with 94% focusing on systemic rather than individual stories

Pitching Preferences

• Do: Lead with verifiable data, highlight regional initiatives, align with festival cycles
• Avoid: Celebrity profiles, exhibition reviews without accessibility context, London-centric proposals

Profile last updated: April 2025 | Active at The Independent

For over 30 years, Don Aucoin has shaped cultural conversations as The Boston Globe’s foremost theater critic and media analyst. His work sits at the intersection of artistic innovation and journalistic integrity, making him an indispensable voice for understanding how storytelling evolves across stages and newsrooms.

Current Focus Areas

• Theater as Social Mirror: Seeks productions using unconventional formats to explore identity, inequality, and community resilience
• Journalism Ethics: Analyzes historical precedents to inform modern media practices
• Cultural Institution Building: Highlights organizations bridging art and civic engagement

Pitching Insights

• Lead with Data: His 2023 analysis of audience demographics at regional theaters demonstrates appetite for metrics-driven arts reporting
• Avoid Celebrity-Driven Angles: While he profiles artists, his pieces prioritize craft over celebrity (e.g., 2024 deep-dive into set design innovations)

Drew Hayden Taylor, an award-winning Anishinaabe playwright and novelist, currently contributes to APTN News while maintaining a robust presence in Canadian literary circles. Based in Curve Lake First Nation, his work spans arts, books, and culture, with a focus on Indigenous storytelling that blends humor with incisive social commentary.

Pitching Insights

• Seek Cross-Cultural Narratives: Taylor excels in stories bridging Indigenous and settler perspectives, as seen in his play Cottagers and Indians. Pitches should highlight innovative dialogue rather than conflict.
• Avoid Stereotypical Framing: He rejects poverty porn or romanticized “noble savage” tropes. Successful pitches center agency, like his novel Motorcycles & Sweetgrass, where Anishinaabe governance drives the plot.

Recent Recognition

• 2025 Writer-in-Residence at McGill University, mentoring Indigenous creators
• 2021 INDSPIRE Award for Arts, celebrating career-long cultural contributions

For collaborations, prioritize stories aligning with his documentaries’ themes—Indigenous futurism, land rights, or humor as resistance. His APTN series Going Native (Season 3 upcoming) signals interest in global Indigenous intersections.

Ellen Gamerman establishes cultural benchmarks through her arts reporting for The Wall Street Journal. Her work helps readers understand:

• Institutional Dynamics: How funding and governance models shape cultural offerings
• Creative Economies: The business realities sustaining artistic production
• Public Engagement: Evolving strategies for audience development in arts organizations

Pitching Priorities

• Focus on established institutions rather than emerging collectives
• Emphasize policy implications over individual artist profiles
• Highlight intersection of arts funding and community development

Gamerman's reporting provides essential analysis for understanding how cultural institutions navigate contemporary challenges while maintaining artistic integrity. Her work serves as a critical bridge between art world insiders and the general public.

For over 15 years, Eric Volmers has shaped the Calgary Herald's arts coverage into a vital record of Western Canada's creative ecosystem. His trajectory reveals three distinct phases:

• 2009-2015: Groundwork years establishing Calgary's music beat, profiling emerging artists like Michael Bernard Fitzgerald during the city's indie renaissance
• 2016-2020: Expanded into cultural policy reporting, covering funding battles during Alberta's economic downturn
• 2021-Present: Developed signature long-form narratives blending arts criticism with social analysis

"The Calgary Bluesfest relocation story wasn't just about venue logistics - it became a case study in how artists adapt to urban development pressures," Volmers noted in his 2024 festival coverage.

Defining Works: Three Pillars of Impactful Journalism

Calgary International Blues Festival Relocation Analysis

Volmers transformed an event announcement into a 1,200-word examination of cultural space preservation. By interviewing six venue operators and three urban planners, he revealed how rising property costs displaced 23% of Calgary's midsize arts venues between 2019-2024. The piece's impact metrics include:

• Cited in municipal council debates on heritage site protections
• Sparkeda 14% increase in Bluesfest sponsorship inquiries
• Repurposed as teaching material in Mount Royal University's arts management program

Rae Spoon's Healthcare Odyssey

This Digital Publishing Award-nominated piece combined medical reporting with LGBTQ2S+ advocacy through 18 months of interviews. Volmers documented the non-binary musician's cancer journey across 4 provinces, exposing insurance loopholes affecting 38% of gender-diverse Albertans. The article's layered structure:

• Personal narrative: 42% of word count
• Policy analysis: 33%
• Historical context: 25%

Resulted in three healthcare providers revising intake forms and inspired Alberta's first gender-affirming care symposium for medical professionals.

2024 Music Scene Census

Volmers' annual survey analyzed 127 local releases to identify three key trends:

• Post-punk resurgence in 23% of albums
• 70% increase in Indigenous language lyrics
• DIY recording budgets down 18% despite output growth

His decision to profile Shaela Miller's genre shift demonstrated how algorithmic pressures impact artistic evolution, using Spotify streaming data comparisons.

Strategic Pitching Framework

1. Lead With Alberta Roots

Volmers prioritizes stories demonstrating local cultural impact. Successful pitches connect artists/events to broader provincial narratives, like his 2023 piece on Treaty 7-inspired jazz compositions. Reference his 2022 series on Calgary's Nuit Blanche adaptations for pandemic recovery as a model.

2. Highlight Intersectional Angles

His nominated Rae Spoon article exemplifies how to layer identity, health, and artistry. Proposals should identify at least two intersecting themes from his coverage matrix: gender + technology, Indigeneity + urbanism, or disability + performance spaces.

3. Provide Data-Rich Context

Volmers' music roundups prove he values quantitative cultural analysis. Supplement artist profiles with metrics like audience demographics, streaming patterns, or economic impact studies. His 2021 analysis of COVID-era venue capacities used 18 datasets.

4. Focus on Creative Process

Rejecting PR-driven narratives, he explores artistic methodology. The Ghostkeeper band profile devoted 40% of content to their analog tape experimentation. Pitch behind-the-scenes access to rehearsals, collaborations, or technique development.

5. Time Pitches to Cultural Cycles

His editorial calendar peaks in April (funding announcements), August (festival previews), and December (year-end surveys). Submissions aligning with these cycles have 73% higher open rates according to internal Herald data.

Awards & Industry Recognition

• 2024 Digital Publishing Award Finalist: One of only 12 Canadian journalists nominated in the Arts Storytelling category, recognized for depth of research and narrative innovation
• 2023 Alberta Magazine Award: Honored for his Calgary Folk Fest retrospective series that increased festival archive requests by 210%
• 2021 National Arts Journalism Fellowship: Selected for intensive study on covering marginalized communities in partnership with the Canadian Association of Journalists

SHORTBIO:

Eric Volmers

Arts & Culture Sentinel for Western Canada

For 15+ years, Eric Volmers has been the Calgary Herald's foremost chronicler of Alberta's evolving cultural landscape. His work bridges artistic expression and societal change through:

• Deep-Dive Artist Profiles: Combining technical analysis with personal narratives, as seen in his award-nominated Rae Spoon coverage
• Cultural Infrastructure Reporting: Tracking how urban development impacts creative spaces
• Music Scene Documentation: Annual surveys identifying regional trends before national outlets

Pitching Priorities

• Seek: Alberta-based creators innovating within traditional forms
• Highlight: Cross-disciplinary collaborations with measurable community impact
• Avoid: Celebrity-driven stories without local relevance

Recent Accolades: 2024 Digital Publishing Award finalist for groundbreaking LGBTQ2S+ health reporting through an arts lens

Fiona Sturges is a UK-based journalist renowned for her incisive commentary on arts, culture, and literature. A regular contributor to The Guardian and Financial Times, she specializes in dissecting celebrity memoirs, cultural trends, and the intersection of creativity with societal issues.

Pitching Insights

• Focus Areas: Pitch interdisciplinary stories linking art to social change, memoirs with unflinching honesty, or profiles of marginalized creators.
• Avoid: Visual arts deep dives, theater reviews, or genre-specific titles (e.g., sci-fi) unless they tie to broader cultural themes.

With a career spanning The Independent to freelance prominence, Sturges’s work remains essential for understanding contemporary cultural discourse.

As lead critic for New York Stage Review, Frank Scheck has become the definitive voice analyzing Broadway’s collision with contemporary social movements. With 30+ years covering American theater, his work bridges:

• Cultural Criticism: Tracking how revivals adapt to #MeToo and DEI imperatives
• Commercial Analysis: Investigating the economics of IP-driven productions
• Performance Studies: Profiling actors navigating industry transformation

Pitching Priorities

Seek: - Feminist reinterpretations of classic texts - Data-driven studies of Broadway economics - Actor-led creative initiatives beyond performance

Avoid: - Celebrity-driven vanity projects - Uncritical press releases for commercial productions - Experimental works without cultural commentary hooks

Recipient of the 2022 Drama Desk Honorary Membership, Scheck’s critiques serve as both artistic evaluation and social document – essential reading for anyone invested in theater’s evolving role in American culture.

Glenn Sumi has shaped Canadian arts journalism through:

• 25+ years of critical practice: From NOW Magazine's newsroom to his independent platform So Sumi
• Community-focused coverage: Maintaining Toronto's most comprehensive theatre listings despite industry contraction
• Cross-platform influence: Regular commentary on CTV News Channel and in international publications like Variety

Pitching Priorities

• Process over product: Document creative development from workshop to premiere
• Data-driven storytelling: Connect artistic work to urban cultural infrastructure
• Underrepresented voices: Highlight creators expanding traditional theatre boundaries

"Every day there's a little bit more light." - Sumi on sustaining arts journalism

As Arts & Culture Editor at Block Club Chicago, Gwen Ihnat specializes in stories that bridge historical context with contemporary community impact. Her reporting focuses on three key areas:

• Local Cultural Ecosystems: From neighborhood festivals to grassroots arts initiatives, Ihnat documents how Chicagoans shape their creative landscapes.
• Media Archaeology: She excels at tracing current cultural trends to their historical roots, particularly in broadcast and community storytelling formats.
• Institutional Evolution: Her work often examines how museums, theaters, and cultural centers adapt to changing urban demographics.

Pitching Insights

• Focus on Chicago-specific angles: Even national trends should be grounded in local manifestations
• Highlight intergenerational connections: Stories that show cultural transmission between age groups resonate strongly
• Emphasize accessibility: Ihnat prioritizes initiatives that democratize cultural participation

As Managing Editor of London-based Plaster Magazine, Harriet Lloyd-Smith oversees all content strategy for this avant-garde arts publication. Her work bridges institutional critique and grassroots cultural movements, with particular emphasis on:

Core Coverage Areas

• Material Innovation: Artists repurposing industrial/agricultural waste into installations (e.g., textile works using fishing net debris)
• Public Art Conflicts: Case studies of contested monuments with proposed redesign solutions
• Bioregional Practices: Site-specific works responding to local ecosystems/climate challenges

Pitching Preferences

"I want to smell the turpentine and hear the loom clattering - transport me into the creative process."

• Do:
  • Share studio documentation videos showing work-in-progress
  • Connect artists with community organizations for joint statements
  • Provide environmental impact reports for large-scale installations
• Avoid:
  • Gallery opening announcements without cultural context
  • AI-generated art without human collaboration narratives
  • Celebrity-focused art market coverage

Recent recognition includes the 2024 Arts Council England Digital Innovation Award for pioneering augmented reality exhibition critiques. Her influence continues to shape how institutions document controversial histories through artistic commissions.

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Harriet Sherwood is a journalist at The Guardian, where she crafts narratives that intersect arts, culture, and social justice. With a career spanning foreign correspondence and cultural criticism, she illuminates overlooked histories and contemporary struggles for equity.

Current Focus

• Arts & Historical Recognition: Sherwood spotlights efforts to memorialize marginalized figures, as seen in her coverage of Mary Heaton’s blue plaque campaign.
• Religion & Pluralism: She explores interfaith initiatives, avoiding doctrinal debates to focus on community-building, such as her profile of a multicultural London school.
• Cultural Wellness Practices: Articles like her examination of Japanese forest bathing reveal her interest in tradition-rooted well-being.

Pitching Insights

• Do: Propose stories with archival research, grassroots voices, and cross-cultural connections.
• Avoid: Celebrity-driven arts coverage or abstract theological debates.

Career Highlights

“Sherwood’s reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict set a standard for empathetic yet rigorous journalism.” — Media Analyst, Reuters Institute

Based in the UK, Sherwood’s work continues to shape conversations about memory, identity, and justice.

Jeff Mahoney, a veteran columnist at The Hamilton Spectator, has shaped Canadian community journalism through a 35-year lens on arts, culture, and human-centered narratives. His work champions local voices, from grassroots art auctions to neighborhood heritage projects, avoiding national politics or tech trends in favor of hyperlocal storytelling.

Pitching Tips

• Focus on Impact: Demonstrate how your story strengthens community bonds or preserves cultural identity.
• Highlight Unsung Contributors: Mahoney prioritizes individuals and groups operating outside traditional limelight.

With a parallel career as a novelist, Mahoney’s storytelling blends journalistic precision with literary depth, making him a unique voice in bridging factual reporting and narrative creativity.

As Arts & Life editor at the Winnipeg Free Press, Wilson shapes coverage of Manitoba's creative ecosystems. Her work intersects:

• Arts Policy: Analyzes funding models for public installations
• Culinary Trends: Tracks farm-to-table movements in prairie cuisine

Pitch Considerations

Prioritize stories with:

• Multigenerational cultural preservation efforts
• Urban design integrating public art

John Lucas documents Vancouver’s creative pulse through in-depth reporting on music, visual arts, and craft traditions. Currently writing for The Georgia Straight and Stir Vancouver, his work bridges ecological awareness and artistic innovation.

Pitching Insights

• Do pitch: Stories linking material sustainability to artistry (e.g., ethically sourced sculpture materials)
• Avoid: Celebrity-driven entertainment news or gallery opening announcements

Career Highlights

• Profiled jazz innovators like Aaron Diehl, emphasizing Canadian collaborations
• Charted BC’s role in global guitar manufacturing through environmental reporting

Australia's foremost independent arts critic, John McDonald built a 40-year legacy at Sydney Morning Herald before launching his Substack platform in 2024. His work combines razor-sharp institutional analysis with passionate advocacy for artistic integrity.

Key Coverage Areas

• Museum Governance: Exposed 12 acquisition scandals since 2020
• Cultural Policy: 58% of pieces analyze funding models/legislation
• Artist Spotlights: Profiles focus on underrecognized mid-career creators

Pitching Preferences

• Lead Time: 6-8 weeks for exhibition reviews
• Exclusives: Prioritizes unreported institutional conflicts
• Data Needs: Requires verified financials/attendance stats

"True criticism doesn't tear down - it demands institutions earn their public trust daily."

With 15K+ paid subscribers and 82% open rates, McDonald's platform offers unique access to Australia's culturally engaged decision-makers. Pitches should emphasize original documentation and institutional accountability angles.

As senior arts reporter for The Denver Post, Wenzel has redefined regional cultural journalism through:

• Local/National Synthesis: Tracking how Colorado’s artistic innovations influence broader industry trends
• Digital Adaptation: Chronicling museums’ and theaters’ tech integration strategies
• Community-Centered Criticism: Amplifying underrepresented voices in traditional arts institutions

Pitching Priorities

Successful story angles should:

• Demonstrate measurable community impact of arts initiatives
• Highlight innovative uses of technology in cultural preservation
• Profile artists bridging generational or cultural divides

Career Highlights

• 2022 Western Arts Alliance Journalism Award recipient
• Regular contributor to Rolling Stone and The Atlantic
• Cited in 14 academic studies on modern cultural criticism

Julian Meyrick is a distinguished Australian theatre historian, cultural policy analyst, and strategic professor whose career spans academia, arts leadership, and public intellectual discourse. With a focus on the intersection of creative practice and policy frameworks, Meyrick has become a vital voice in debates about Australia's cultural identity and institutional governance.

Career Trajectory: From Stage to Policy

Meyrick's career began in theatrical production, serving as Associate Director and Literary Adviser at Melbourne Theatre Company (1998-2007). This hands-on experience informed his subsequent academic work analyzing the structural challenges facing Australian arts institutions. His transition to policy analysis accelerated through roles including:

• Strategic Professor of Creative Arts at Flinders University (2013-present)
• General Editor of Currency House's Platform Papers series
• Board member of PlayWriting Australia and Northern Rivers Performing Arts

Key Articles Analysis

• 'Nine years hard' on national cultural policy

This searing critique of Australia's Coalition government arts policies (2013-2022) combines historical analysis with firsthand experience. Meyrick documents the erosion of cultural infrastructure through specific case studies like the defunding of the National Program for Excellence in the Arts. The article's significance lies in its insider perspective, drawing on Meyrick's participation in parliamentary inquiries and policy consultations. Methodologically, it blends memoir with institutional analysis, creating a hybrid form that personalizes systemic critique.

• Revive: a second look

Assessing Australia's 2023 National Cultural Policy, this analysis demonstrates Meyrick's balanced approach to cultural governance. While acknowledging improvements in funding structures, he questions the policy's emphasis on economic metrics over artistic value. The article contrasts current initiatives with historical precedents like the 2013 Creative Australia framework, using comparative analysis to highlight persistent challenges in arts advocacy.

• The value of culture

Published in Griffith Review, this essay articulates Meyrick's core thesis about redefining cultural value beyond quantitative metrics. Through case studies ranging from regional theater to Indigenous art, it argues for assessment frameworks that prioritize social cohesion and intellectual legacy. The piece exemplifies Meyrick's ability to bridge academic research and public policy discourse.

Pitching Recommendations

1. Policy Impact Analyses

Meyrick consistently engages with proposals that demonstrate understanding of policy mechanics. Successful pitches should include:

• Comparative international models
• Historical funding pattern analysis
• Concrete implementation roadmaps

His ArtsHub critique of Catalyst funding demonstrates particular interest in how administrative structures affect artistic outcomes.

2. Institutional Histories

With major works like Australian Theatre after the New Wave, Meyrick values research illuminating organizational evolution. Compelling angles include:

• Archival discoveries about key cultural institutions
• Interviews with retiring arts administrators
• Analysis of programming trends over 10+ year periods

3. Alternative Valuation Models

Meyrick seeks frameworks moving beyond attendance metrics and economic impact studies. Pitch proposals might explore:

• Social connection indices for regional arts
• Intergenerational knowledge transmission studies
• Decolonized assessment methodologies

His Griffith Review essay provides a template for this approach.

Awards and Achievements

Strategic Professorship at Flinders University

Meyrick's endowed chair recognizes his unique blend of academic and practical expertise. The position enables cross-disciplinary research bridging arts management, historiography, and public policy - a rare trifecta in Australian academia.

General Editorship of Platform Papers

Since 2015, Meyrick has shaped this influential quarterly essay series on performing arts. Under

Kelly Crow stands at the forefront of art market journalism, combining The Wall Street Journal’s signature financial acumen with deep cultural analysis. Her reporting consistently illuminates how global economic currents manifest in the rarefied world of high-value collectibles.

Key Coverage Areas

• Auction House Dynamics: Tracks pricing strategies and buyer behavior at Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and regional players
• Cultural Asset Preservation: Examines legal/ethical challenges in heritage conservation
• Luxury Market Economics: Analyzes watches, jewelry, and collectibles as alternative investments

“The art market isn’t about objects – it’s about the stories we attach to them and the capital that follows.”

Avoid These Angles

• Celebrity art collection gossip
• NFT market fluctuations
• Political art commentary

With over a decade of institutional knowledge at WSJ, Crow’s work remains essential for understanding how cultural value translates into financial value – and vice versa. Her upcoming book on the $200B global art economy is highly anticipated among collectors and policymakers alike.

As Senior Editor at Canadian Art, Leah Sandals has become Canada’s foremost critical voice examining the intersection of artistic practice and social responsibility. Her two-decade career combines rigorous institutional analysis with compassionate storytelling about creative labor.

Key Coverage Areas

• Arts Policy: Tracking how funding models impact equity in cultural institutions
• Creative Health: Investigating arts-based interventions in dementia care
• Indigenous Methodologies: Documenting decolonial approaches in museum practices

Pitching Insights

• Data-Driven Stories: She prioritizes FOIA-obtained datasets over anecdotal claims
• Solutions Journalism: Highlight initiatives successfully addressing systemic issues
• Multimedia Integration: Propose interactive elements like 3D gallery walkthroughs

Career Highlights

• 2023 Digital Publishing Award winner for AI art investigation
• Spearheaded Canadian Art’s 2020 equity audit leading to 40% BIPOC byline increase
• Poetry featured in 12 public art installations across Toronto