Dr Virginia Keft

Dr. Virginia Keft is an experienced First Nations Producer, Program Coordinator & Curator with over 25 years experience working with artists, dancers, and Arts community members. In her current roles as 'Producer, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs', at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Australia), Virginia brings her passion for making contemporary visual culture accessible to broad audiences together with her commitment to help drive change through innovative and culturally safe arts and culture programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Through this role Virginia founded and developed, 'Art Yarns: For Older and Elder Mob', a culturally responsive participatory contemporary art program designed to support the social, emotional, and cultural well-being needs of Aboriginal peoples living with dementia and their families and communities.

Virginia is a proud Muruwari Woman living on Dharawal Country. Dr Keft holds a Doctorate (PhD - Medalist) from the University of Wollongong, along with a Bachelor of Creative Arts (BCA - Distinction), and a Bachelor of Arts (BA - Class 1 Honours).

Virginia is a well-respected researcher in her field and has published and presented papers on Arts and Culture, dance performance, and Indigenous Arts and Wellbeing. More recently, Virginia was the recipient of the National Gallery of Australia's prestigious, Indigenous Leadership Program 2022.

Virginia is the Founding Director, Arts Manager and Producer of award winning dance company, Cinnamon Twist Belly Dance. She is an active member of the Queer community, Virginia sits on the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group and sits on the First Nations Arts Board of the Red Rattler Theatre.

AIATSIS Sponsorship Award 2021 - The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)

Yael Filipovic, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

Public Engagement Manager, (MCA).

E: yael.filipovic@mca.com.au

PH: +61-2-9250 8425