Suzanne Kalk
Fryerstown,Australia
Summary
I am a passionate and dedicated festival producer, community advocate, and creative visionary. With over20 years of experience in festival management, community engagement, and arts programming, I thrive on creating spaces where diverse voices come together to share, celebrate, and connect. My work is dedicated to connecting people through arts and culture, empowering multicultural and marginalized communities, and creating platforms for shared stories and experiences.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Designer, Director, Manager
The Village World Kitchen
01.2014 - Current
- Created and managed a mobile performative kitchen showcasing cultural food stories and performances
- Worked closely with local communities to highlight diversity and connection through food
- Presented at major events, including The Piers Festival, Desert Harmony Festival, and Federation Square
Programmer & Manager
Community Arts & Event Projects
01.2014 - Current
- Delivered arts projects in schools and communities focused on mental health, cultural inclusion, and youth empowerment
- Partnered with organisations such as The Royal Children’s Hospital, BAHN (Richmond), Multicultural Arts Victoria and Barkly Arts (Tennant Creek)
- Key events include The Moon Lantern Festival, The Harvest Festival, Piers Festival and The Festival for Healthy Living
Co-Founder, Artistic Director, Festival Producer
The Village Festival
01.2004 - Current
- Co-created Australia’s only traveling theatre festival, now in its21st year
- Delivered61+ events in locations including Castlemaine, Melbourne, Tennant Creek, Canberra and Falls Festival sites
- Designed inclusive, community-driven festival environments
- Secured funding, managed teams, built partnerships, and developed site-specific programs tailored to each community
Manager & Event Caterer
Catering & Hospitality
01.2004 - Current
- Oversaw catering for The Village Festival, including artist and crew meals, vendor management, and café operations
- Worked with Growing Abundance to support local food initiatives and sustainability
- Worked at various food and catering businesses
Teaching
University of Ballarat (TAFE)
01.2007 - 01.2012
- Taught set design, costume creation, puppet-making, theatre production techniques and event management for Cert IV and Diploma programs
- Facilitated arts workshops Nationally and Internationally till current.
Education
Diploma of Community Services -
Victoria University VU
Melbourne, VIC02-2024
NEIS Business Program -
Kangan Institute
Melbourne, VIC10-2020
Producer Bootcamp -
MILKE
Melbourne, VIC06-2020
Certificate IV in Training And Assessment -
Ballarat
10-2009
Bachelor of Arts -
St Joost Kunst Academie
S Hertogenbosch,The Netherlands06-1995
Skills
- Event & Festival Management: End-to-end production expertise, including programming, site coordination, grant writing, budgeting, volunteer management, stakeholder relations
- Community Engagement: Skilled at fostering collaboration among diverse groups, including multicultural and indigenous communities, to deliver meaningful, inclusive projects
- Creative Direction: Designing and delivering original concepts for festivals, events, and arts-based community initiatives
- Catering & Hospitality: Management of event catering, food vendors, and large-scale meal preparation with an emphasis on sustainability and cultural storytelling
- Teaching & Mentorship: Experienced in educating and mentoring young artists, festival producers, and community groups
Certification
- First Aid (Level2) (2019)
- Food Handling (2018)
- Mental Health First Aid (2018)
- Community Leadership (2021)
- Working with Children Check (current)
- Victorian Driver’s License (current)
LANGUAGES
Fluent Dutch and English, basic German
Timeline
Designer, Director, Manager
The Village World Kitchen
01.2014 - Current
Programmer & Manager
Community Arts & Event Projects
01.2014 - Current
Teaching
University of Ballarat (TAFE)
01.2007 - 01.2012
Co-Founder, Artistic Director, Festival Producer
The Village Festival
01.2004 - Current
Manager & Event Caterer
Catering & Hospitality
01.2004 - Current
- First Aid (Level2) (2019)
- Food Handling (2018)
- Mental Health First Aid (2018)
- Community Leadership (2021)
- Working with Children Check (current)
- Victorian Driver’s License (current)
Diploma of Community Services -
Victoria University VU
NEIS Business Program -
Kangan Institute
Producer Bootcamp -
MILKE
Certificate IV in Training And Assessment -
Ballarat
Bachelor of Arts -
St Joost Kunst Academie
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