Harmonie Downes is an arts facilitator and manager working in the creative industries and community and disability sectors. Harmonie specialises in inclusive and accessible arts practice, events and business strategy for artists. Harmonie has worked as a ceramic artist in her own practice, as an artworker, as a touring musician and ensemble facilitator, booking agent, mentor and marketer for creatives. She has also been a festival director, producer and stage manager for large scale complex festivals, small to medium events and major performing arts venues across the country. Alongside all that, she has been a grant assessor for organisations and is on a couple of boards and steering committees.
Most recently, Harmonie directed Kurilpa Derby, a community street festival attended by 3,000 people (4 September); was executive producer and general manager for West End Film Festival, (29 July-24 August); and coordinated a First Nations visual arts workshop program (completed 10 September). She also has taken on the role of Program Manager for BEMAC, based in Kangaroo Point, and the Queensland Multicultural Festival. Harmonie has worked on over 300 shows in the past 20 years from managing to performing.
I hope Sync will give me time to learn about myself, to foster the leadership potential in others and to cultivate my understanding of leadership with clarity, beauty and passion.