Mary Jane “MJ” Warfield is an arts management professional, based in Mparntwe (Alice Springs).
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Drama and Literature from Deakin University. Her career in arts management began in 2006 as Cultural Development Officer at Yarra Ranges Council. Whilst employed with local government, MJ was responsible for programs across all art forms and in many contexts, from school partnerships and film festivals to receiving professional touring companies at Upper Yarra Arts Centre and across the region. This is where she honed her skills in community engagement, programming and marketing the arts in regional towns.
MJ went on to work as a freelance creative producer and festival director in the Upper Yarra region in Victoria, producing Summer School of the Arts for Yarra Valley Arts, large-scale community dance works and celebrations, an education program with Yerring Station Sculpture exhibition and directed Warburton Harmony Festival in 2012. She was also brought on as a consultant by Yarra Ranges Council for the venue operations of their newly refurbished Healesville Memo Hall.
A road trip in 2013 saw MJ take a detour to Alice Springs to take on the role of Production Manager for Alice Desert Festival. Alice Springs very quickly became home and MJ spent the following two years as Manager of Alice Desert Festival with Red Hot Arts.
Other freelance roles in Alice Springs have included contracts with Alice Springs Town Council, Something Somewhere Film Festival, Wide Open Space Festival, Totem Theatre and in 2016 she was Creative Producer for Incite Art’s Unbroken Land.
From 2015 to 2021 MJ was the Regional Arts Fund manager with Regional Arts Australia and is now Co-General Manager of Red Hot Arts.
MJ is passionate about Community Cultural Development and contemporary regional Australian arts practice.
