Education
2018 Master of Arts, Art in Public Space, with distinction, RMIT University Melbourne Australia.
2015 Graduate Certificate, Creative Industries- University of Central Queensland.
2014 Specialist Certificate –Ableton live-music production – Berklee School of Music Boston USA.
Employment
Summary
Susan is a highly experienced Creative leader and Producer, specialising in the management and production of cultural, and Community led creative partnerships and projects. With lived expertise, a professional background in socially engaged artistic practice, major festival management, and extensive arts industry experience, Susan brings a diverse and professional approach to future focussed strategic project management. An engaging communicator at all internal and external levels, Susan has strong and demonstrated experience as an accomplished leader in the Victorian creative sector and has developed multilevel personal networks that provide advantage to her commitment to concepts of cultural competency and collaboration as vital to building successful, sustainable diverse creative initiatives.
2022 - current Associate Director, Programming, Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne Australia.
2014 - 2022 Culturally Led Executive Project Manager, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, (VACCHO), Melbourne Australia.
2001 - 2014 Major Event producer, Big Day Out Contemporary music and arts festival Australia and New Zealand.
1998 - 2001 Artistic Director, The Push Incorporated Melbourne Australia.
Recent career highlights
'Beneath the mask', 2025, MAV and Arts centre Melbourne: click here
"BLAKTIVISM," 2022, 2023, 2024, GABA MUSIK and Arts Centre Melbourne: click here
"ArtSouk" , 2024, MAV and Arts Centre Melbourne: click here
Arts Centre Melbourne supporting YIRRAMBOI festival 2025 as major venue partner : click here
Board membership
Current Blak Dot Gallery Founding Board member, Blak dot Gallery Brunswick Victoria.
2014 - 15 Womens Music industry Advisory panel – Music Victoria.
2009 - 15 Board member – Live Performance Australia, Contemporary Music Panel – Annual Helpmann Awards.
2008 -15 Board Member – The Push Inc Statewide not for profit Youth music and arts organisation.
Art in Public Space
2018 'Susan Maco Forrester's Friendly Society', Foresters Hall, 124 La Trobe Street Melbourne, 3000.
2017 'Future is now', Gertrude Street Projection Festival ,Block 95, Atherton Gardens High Rise Estate, Fitzroy , Victoria Australia.
2016 'Fractured', Gertrude Street Projection Festival ,Block 90, Atherton Gardens High Rise Estate, Fitzroy , Victoria Australia.
Group exhibitions
2018 'Critical Mass - Locked in', Blak Dot Gallery, Brunswick, Victoria Australia.
2018 'The valorisation of US' - 'We are Here ', Midsumma, Palmer Gallery, State Library of Victoria.
2017 'Future is Now', RMIT Europe, Barcelona, Spain.
2017 'Squatters and Savages' Art Gallery of Ballarat Victoria Australia.
2016 'Identity", Solo Exhibition, Wyndham Art Gallery, Midsumma Festival, Wyndham City Council, Werribee, Victoria Australia.
2015 'Sistas united in Sorrow" - Both Sides of the street”, Counihan Gallery / Blak Dot Gallery, Brunswick Victoria, City of Moreland, Creative Victoria.
2014 'Sticks & Stones',18c Blak dot Gallery East Brunswick Victoria.
2013 'Muthaland Arterial' Somali Peace Band” Royce NG , Melbourne International Festival, Gertrude Contemporary – Fitzroy Victoria
2013 'Still life composition # 1", Digital Natives return to paradise' Melbourne Fringe Festival Blak Dot Gallery – East Brunswick Victoria.
2013 'Isonic Selectahs", exclusive sound composition Years Eve, Fireworks Celebrations, commission - City of Melbourne, Victoria.
"2013 'Bumpy & Arresta', Unclassified”, Hares and Hyenas Gallery Collingwood Victoria.
2012 "Good Golly', They’re a Queer mob” Midsumma Festival, Blak Dot Gallery, east Brunswick Victoria
.2011 'My somali Brothas & sistas where are u?"RE: Appropriate” Blak Dot Gallery East Brunswick Victoria.
Press
2017 'The nine best projections at Gertrude Street projection Festival 2017, Time Out Melbourne.
2017 'Gertrude Street Projection Festival celebrates 10 years'
2016 'Indigenous Artists build collaboration through art' Radio Australia.
2016 'Gertrude Street projection Festival lights up Fitzroy thoroughfare in a colourful celebration of culture Sydney Morning Herald.
2016 'Identity art exhibition - Midsumma Festival preview, My Melbourne Arts.com
2016 "Many layers of identity on show'
2015 - "Reframing Culture", Vivian Gerand, Overland Magazine
2014 "Black dots 18c opening night" Lian Low, Peril Asian Australian Arts and Culture.
2011 "Re - appropriate", Dulcie Stewart, Urban Viti.
CV