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Iain Dawson

Curator, producer, cultural project leader

Twenty years delivering exhibitions, capital projects and national events across Australia's visual arts sector.

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Executive Summary

Senior curator, producer and cultural project leader with 20+ years' experience delivering complex exhibitions, capital projects, national events and commercial campaigns across Australia's visual arts sector. Proven record leading projects from initial brief through to delivery — stakeholder engagement, program direction, operational documentation and reporting — for public institutions, national art fairs and commercial galleries.

Directed multi-city national art fairs generating more than $10M in annual sales, including large-scale events in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane featuring 100+ exhibitors and attracting over 15,000 visitors per event. As Director of the South East Centre for Contemporary Art, led a decade-long exhibition and events program while delivering a $4.2M capital redevelopment and institutional rebrand, increasing visitation more than 30% year-on-year through strategic programming and stakeholder engagement.

Currently based in the NSW Northern Rivers building an independent curatorial and production consulting practice, and open to curatorial, production and project delivery roles across the cultural and events sectors.

People viewing colorful artwork in an art gallery with white walls and track lighting. Various paintings, including a portrait of a bearded man and a family on a beach, are displayed on the wall.

Core Capabilities

  • End-to-End Exhibition & Event Production

  • Capital Project Delivery & Design Brief Development

  • Stakeholder & Community Engagement

  • Curatorial Direction & Exhibition Programming

  • Budgeting, Forecasting & Reporting

  • People Leadership & Team Management

  • CRM & Database Management

  • Sponsorship & Partnership Coordination

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Director  —  Iain Dawson Gallery, Sydney, NSW

2008 – 2013

  • Delivered 20+ exhibitions and associated events annually, managing logistics, client liaison, VIP previews and public openings.

  • Built and maintained collector relationships, driving repeat sales and long-term engagement.

  • Coordinated participation in national art fairs, overseeing installation schedules and contractor liaison.

Director  —  ART Sydney / ART Melbourne / ART Brisbane

2007 – 2008

  • Directed Art Sydney, Art Melbourne and Art Brisbane, three annual multi-city art fairs delivered in association with the Affordable Art Fair (London/New York).

  • Managed exhibitor recruitment (40+ per fair), sponsorship agreements and venue coordination.

  • Prepared exhibitor manuals, operational documents and floor plans; coordinated bump-in/bump-out logistics.

  • Delivered post-event reporting, reconciliations and financial forecasts to executive stakeholders.

Gallery Manager  —  Commercial Sector, Sydney, NSW

2000 – 2007

  • Managed daily operations, sales, marketing and event coordination for leading contemporary galleries.

  • Coordinated art fair participation and major exhibition launches.

Assistant Curator  —  Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney, NSW

1999 – 2000

  • Supported exhibition planning and delivery, catalogue production and public program coordination.

Independent Consultant  —  Identity Cultural Projects, Gold Coast/Northern Rivers

2024 – Present

  • Providing project-based curatorial direction, exhibition and event production, and capital project consulting on a scoped, invoiced basis.

Director  —  South East Centre for Contemporary Art, Bega Valley, NSW

2014 – 2024

  • Managed all aspects of exhibitions and public events from planning through to execution, to a professional standard across a decade-long program.

  • Prepared detailed operational briefs, run sheets and event documentation for technical, front-of-house, marketing and contractor teams.

  • Conducted stakeholder meetings, site inspections and walkthroughs to confirm requirements and align expectations.

  • Contributed to annual budget preparation and financial reporting within a local government governance framework.

  • Secured sustained funding growth and strengthened sponsor and partner relationships through consistent service delivery.

  • Led and mentored a team of five staff and 40+ volunteers, embedding structured service protocols.

  • Directed the SECCA capital redevelopment and rebrand ($4.2M), delivered with Sibling Architecture and Bega Valley Shire Council, opening April 2023 with the Archibald Prize regional tour and the award-recognised South/East Interference exhibition series.

Professional Experience

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Professional Recognition & Education

  • Museums & Galleries NSW International Fellowship (2018) — Museum MACAN, Jakarta

  • IMAGinE Awards — Best Exhibition (2019) and Digital Engagement (2021)

  • Peer Assessor — Create NSW (2019–2021); Regional Arts NSW (2015–2020)

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts — Canberra School of Art, Australian National University

  • Postgraduate Studies (incomplete) — Master of Museum Studies, University of Sydney

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