Maddyson Hatton
Sydney,Australia
Summary
Arts and community engagement professional with extensive experience across gallery education, cultural programming, creative operations, WHS compliance and team leadership. Skilled in coordinating programs, managing arts facilities, supporting exhibition delivery, and improving service outcomes in dynamic creative environments. Brings strong experience in stakeholder engagement, inclusive learning practices and the development of welcoming, well-organised and community-centred arts spaces.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Operations Manager
Keane Ceramics
07.2020 - Current
- Lead day-to-day operations across two sites, overseeing staff, schedules, community engagement programs, customer experience and educational initiatives within a national ceramics organisation.
- Key Responsibilities
- Coordinate operational workflows, scheduling, forecasting, procurement and supplier relations.
- Lead recruitment, training, supervision and performance development across operations, retail and customer-facing teams.
- Oversee WHS compliance including silica management, risk assessments and safe creative practice.
- Support community engagement and arts education through workshop content, demonstrations and public programming.
- Develop digital tools and systems that improve communication, reporting and workflow efficiency.
- Contribute to strategic planning, budget oversight, facility operations and multi-site management.
- Key Achievements
- Improved service delivery by redesigning workflows that reduced turnaround times and strengthened customer experience.
- Lifted team capability through structured onboarding, training and competency programs.
- Introduced digital systems that increased transparency and reduced administrative load.
- Played a key role in the building and establishment of Keane Ceramics second site location
- Strengthened financial oversight through forecasting models and data-driven procurement.
- Represented the organisation nationally, building strong partnerships across the arts community.
- Enhanced safety culture by updating WHS procedures and delivering targeted training.
Art Tutor
Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery
01.2019 - 06.2020
- Design and deliver exhibition-responsive workshops and community arts programs for children, young people and adults.
- Key Responsibilities
- Develop creative programs aligned with gallery exhibitions and community needs.
- Deliver hands-on workshops with inclusive, adaptive learning approaches.
- Facilitate artmaking that supports creative play, skill-building and conceptual development.
- Activate gallery spaces through participatory and installation-based programs.
- Key Achievements
- Designed high-engagement programs that were accessible, creative and cost-effective.
- Delivered inclusive workshops tailored to children and participants with diverse abilities.
- Built strong community relationships through warm, encouraging teaching.
- Expanded program reach through accessible, low-cost and exhibition-aligned content.
Exhibition Support Officer
Maitland Regional Art Gallery – Maitland City Council
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Supported curatorial and technical teams in exhibition installation, gallery operations and public program delivery.
- Key Responsibilities
- Install and deinstall artworks, prepare gallery spaces and manage AV/technical components.
- Safely handle artworks, repair walls, construct small exhibition supports and coordinate setup.
- Work collaboratively with curators, artists and contractors to meet exhibition schedules.
- Assist with public programming, events and visitor engagement.
- Key Achievements
- Contributed to the delivery of high-quality exhibitions within a local government context.
- Strengthened WHS compliance and safe manual handling practices during installations.
- Supported effective turnaround between exhibitions through efficient space preparation.
Technical Officer — Printmaking
University of Newcastle
01.2019 - 2020
- Manage operations of a tertiary printmaking studio, supporting safe creative practice, program delivery and student learning across multiple print disciplines.
- Key Responsibilities
- Coordinate day-to-day studio operations, equipment maintenance and WHS compliance.
- Deliver demonstrations and technical instruction across printmaking processes.
- Support academic staff with class delivery, assessment preparation and program coordination.
- Provide one-on-one student support, troubleshooting and creative problem-solving.
- Maintain studio systems, inventory, chemical safety requirements and documentation.
- Key Achievements
- Strengthened learning outcomes through demonstrations that supported safe, confident and independent practice.
- Improved service quality by implementing processes that increased efficiency and WHS compliance.
- Enhanced student success through targeted technical mentoring, particularly during assessment periods.
- Successfully balanced competing demands across teaching, safety and studio operations.
Education
Distinction, Honours Class I - Bachelor of Fine Art
University of Newcastle
Newcastle, NSW01-2016
Master of Secondary Teaching - Partial Completion
Charles Darwin University
Architectural Sketchbook Program - undefined
Istituto Europeo di Design (IED)
Rome01.2014
Skills
- Arts Program Design & Delivery
- Gallery & Creative Facility Operations
- Community Engagement & Education
- Staff Leadership, Training & Supervision
- WHS Compliance & Safe Creative Practice
- Budgeting, Forecasting & Procurement
- Exhibition-Responsive Learning
- Customer Service & Issue Resolution
- Stakeholder & Partnership Development
- Digital Systems & Administration
Websites
Accomplishments
- Brenda Clouten Memorial Travelling Scholarship Finalist
- Watt Space Art Prize – Third Prize
- NAVA Emerging Artist Student Award
Certification
- Working With Children Check APP
- First Aid Certificate
Timeline
Operations Manager
Keane Ceramics
07.2020 - Current
Art Tutor
Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery
01.2019 - 06.2020
Technical Officer — Printmaking
University of Newcastle
01.2019 - 2020
Exhibition Support Officer
Maitland Regional Art Gallery – Maitland City Council
01.2016 - 01.2018
Master of Secondary Teaching - Partial Completion
Charles Darwin University
Architectural Sketchbook Program - undefined
Istituto Europeo di Design (IED)
Distinction, Honours Class I - Bachelor of Fine Art
University of Newcastle
Conferences & Industry Events
CONFERENCES & INDUSTRY EVENTS (Selected)
2023
• NCECA Conference – Cincinnati, USA
• Three Day Clay – Melbourne, Victoria
• Sydney Ceramics Market – Carriageworks, Sydney
2021
• Australian Ceramics Triennale – Darwin, Northern Territory
2020
• Clay Gulgong Conference – Gulgong, NSW
Exhbitions
EXHIBITIONS (Selected)
2018
• Concerning Peace, Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Maitland
• Wanderings, Sheffer Gallery; presented by Gallery 139, Sydney
• Drawn Out, Gallery 139, Newcastle
• Memoranda, The University Gallery, Newcastle
2017
• Imaginarium, Acrux Art Gallery, Newcastle
• The Print Tomorrow, Gallery 139, Newcastle
• Beyond the Book, Acrux Art Gallery, Newcastle
• In The Family, Acrux Art Gallery, Newcastle
• VOLUME: Another Art Book Fair, Sydney
• Sydney Ceramics Conference, Sydney
2016
• Honours Graduation Exhibition, The University Gallery, Newcastle
• Brenda Clouten Finalists Exhibition, Maitland Regional Art Gallery
• imbued, Acrux Art Gallery
• 123 Go, Acrux Art Gallery
• Do I know you, Watt Space
• Technê: crafting technology, The University Gallery
• Field Notes, Newcastle Art Space
• Small: The Newcastle Way, Back to Back Galleries
• Pulling the Wool, Back to Back Galleries
• The Expanded Print, Watt Space
2015
• Subliminal, University of Newcastle
• Hometown Advantage, Gallery 139
• Blueprint, Watt Space
• One Door Closes, Watt Space
• Ecological, Watt Space
2014
• Bloom, Watt Space
• Ceramics Showcase, Watt Space
• Artcity, Watt Space
2013
• Vessels, Watt Space
2012
• First Class, Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery
ARTIST TALKS & Publications
2022
• Making with Keane, HOTA – Home of the Arts, Queensland
• Making with Keane, Stoker Studio, Victoria
• Making with Keane, Keane Ceramics, Sydney
2016
• Conversations in Art, University of Newcastle
2014
• Conversations in Art, University of Newcastle
2012
• Artist Talk, Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery
• Australian Journal of Australian Ceramics, Vol. 55, No. 2 (2016): National Education Pictorial Survey
• Newcastle Herald coverage:
· http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2894934/hit-the-road-for-artistic-collection/
· http://www.gallery139.com.au/exhibitions-1/hometown-advantage
· http://www.theherald.com.au/story/3781747/students-display-a-culture-of-talent/
· http://www.theherald.com.au/story/3095233/art-still-much-to-learn-about-life/
· http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4029054/vibrant-hunter-talent-is-on-show/
• Hunter Arts Network — Pulling the Wool: http://hunterartsnetwork.org/pulling-the-wool/12017