About Utp

Read our statement on First Nations Voice to Parliament.

Who we are

Utp is leading a not so quiet revolution of art that is socially responsive, inclusive and that reflects the diverse* nation we live in. We lead from the lands of the Darug people and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

Utp is a unique commissioning and producing organisation. We make long-term investments in collaborations with artists and communities from outside the dominant culture to give form to extraordinary ideas. We never do this alone, working with an exceptional set of partners to co-produce a year-round program of performance, dance, visual art, learning and community-led projects, unlike anything you have seen before.

Our curatorial model ensures projects are self-determined by artists and/or communities, challenging the dominant methodology of the lead Artistic Director to give rise to truly artist/community led projects.

We are committed to offering access-for-all to brilliant ideas, unusual experiences and critical thinking.

Art is not a luxury, it’s for everyone.

*We are an intersectional organisation and define diversity as including First Nations peoples, those who live with disability, the LGBTIQ+ community and people from the many culturally and linguistically diverse communities who make up this country. This diversity is reflected in our team, in the artists and communities we work with and our audiences.

Our History

Find out more about our 43 year history here.

Read our annual and artist reports here.

Utp Core Staff

Hannah Donnelly – Co-Artistic Director

Hannah Donnelly (She/Her) is an award-winning Wiradjuri curator, artist, and producer. In 2022 Hannah established the Paul Ramsay Foundation’s First Nations core art collection and permanent exhibition at Yirranma Place, she was a curatorium member for the 23rd Biennale of Sydney and she edited Blacklight: Ten Years of First Nations Storytelling (Sweatshop), a literary anthology of First Nations storytelling from Western Sydney. Her practice and curatorial research spans Indigenous Futures, south-eastern Aboriginal art and intergenerational/intercultural collaborations.   Hannah is excited to join Utp now as Co-Artistic Director where she will bring her unique set of skills to arts leadership, with her background not only in multi-arts but also working in policy across international human rights law and developing fee-for-service cultural safety training models.She is passionate about standards and policies to implement organisational structures around ICIP (Indigenous and Cultural Intellectual Property) protection, benefit sharing and reparations. Hannah’s previous roles include Producer of First Nations Programs at ACE and Curator of Aboriginal Programs at Carriageworks. Her recent publications include essays and poetry for Performance Space New York, Artist Profile, After Australia, Sovereign Words, Artlink, Acclaim Magazine, Writers Victoria and Cordite Poetry Review.

Photo by Jacquie Manning

Jessica Olivieri – Co-Artistic Director

Dr Jessica Olivieri (She/Her/They) is a BA graduate of the now defunct, always legendary Western Sydney University Art School, undertaking study at the Piet Zwart and receiving a PhD from Sydney University. This PhD focused on the intersections of visual art, performance, dance and theatre within a community setting and how to do it better. Prior to this, Jessica had a practice as an artist and curator showing at major institutions like Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney and Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne and curating for Performance Space, Sydney and Campbelltown Arts Centre. Jessica's experience of growing up in an intercultural environment, as well as ten years of house-bound chronic illness and dyslexia, have informed her commitment to intersectional access to the arts.

Hareen Johl – General Manager

Since 2020, Hareen Johl (She/Her) has been working as a Co-Director and Treasurer at Pari, an artist-run space based in Parramatta. Her previous roles include Finance Manager and Head of Product at Art Money. Hareen’s experience in a startup and early-stage business as well as a community-centred ARI has equipped her to improve and adapt an organisation’s internal systems and structures to respond to its evolving needs, in order to best serve its values and communities.

Hareen completed a Master of Art Administration from University of New South Wales in 2014 and holds a Bachelor of Finance & International Business from University of South Australia. Hareen grew up in Launceston, Tasmania.

Amy Prcevich – Creative Producer

Amy Prcevich (She/Her) is an artist, curator and creative producer. Her approach to these overlapping roles is underpinned by conversation, research and writing. Amy has a particular interest in social and public space, language and labour. She is specifically interested in the nature and value of artist’s labour, which was the focus of her recently completed Master of Fine Art (UNSW). She has participated in residencies at Test Sites (Public Art Development Grant, City of Melbourne) and Parramatta Artist Studios and has exhibited at The Substation, Arts House, Bus Projects (VIC) and Campbelltown Arts Centre, Pari and Firstdraft (NSW).  You can contact Amy from Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at amy [at] utp.org.au.

Photo by Garry Trinh

Eddie Abd – Creative Producer

Eddie Abd (She/Her) is a visual artist and creative producer, working for the past 10 years on creative multimedia projects across Western Sydney. Her approach to working with people is shaped by her own experiences and learnings as a migrant, carer, artist and broadcast journalist. She is the recipient of the 2021 Blake Emerging Artist Award and the 2022 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging). She has held solo shows at Firstdraft, Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre and Peacock Gallery. Eddie studied Painting at the National Institute of Fine Arts (Lebanon) and has completed a Bachelor of Digital Media at COFA (UNSW). Eddie lives with her family on the unceded lands of the Dharug and Gundungurra peoples. You can contact Eddie from Monday to Thursday at eddie [at] utp.org.au.

Photo by Garry Trinh

Languages spoken: Arabic, French

Jane Wade – Creative Producer

Jane Wade (She/They) is an emerging photographic artist based on the unceded land of the Cabrogal People working across photography, video and installation after recently completing a Bachelor of Design in Photography at UTS. Previously touching upon memory and simulacra, Jane’s work is currently centred on communal surrealism as an understandable response to collective memory.

As of now, Jane is a co-director at Pari and recently participated in 'The Places We Call Home', a mentorship and exhibition program facilitated by AndThen Photo Agency and commissioned by Stocklands Merrylands. Previously, Jane has been a part of several group exhibitions heavily linked to her academic life; these spaces include the Art Gallery of NSW, Tamworth Regional Gallery, Airspace Projects, Babekuhl Gallery, and the Gaffa Gallery. You can contact Jane from Monday to Thursday at jane [at] utp.org.au.

Photo by Garry Trinh

Celine Cheung – Communications Coordinator

Celine Cheung (She/Her) is a visual artist, who is broadly interested in performance-making, storytelling and DIY cultures. She moves between art, education and curating as a freelance community facilitator. Celine has held roles at 4A Centre for 4A Centre of Contemporary Asian Art, Bankstown Arts Centre and various film festivals. Since completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts/Arts from UNSW Art and Design, she has worked with Parramatta Artists’ Studios, The Waiting Room Project and Diversity Arts Australia to present various projects and commissions. She is also currently a Co-Director at artist-run gallery Pari. You can contact Celine from Monday to Wednesday at celine [at] utp.org.au.

Languages Spoken: Cantonese, Mandarin, French

Utp Associate Staff

Daniel Browning – Blak Box Curator

Daniel is a highly respected journalist and radio broadcaster from the Bundjalung and Kullilli peoples of far northern New South Wales and south-western Queensland. A trained painter, he is a visual arts graduate of the Queensland University of Technology. Since 2005 he has produced and presented Awaye!, the Indigenous art and culture program on ABC Radio National. He has produced sound artworks from three UNESCO World Heritage sites, exhibited during the 2015 Mildura Palimpsest Biennale and in extremis at Arts House, Melbourne in 2017. As a documentary maker he has received a bronze medal at the New York Festival for Cast Among Strangers, a study of the human zoo phenomenon. His documentary Fernando’s ghost about the Aboriginal rights activist Anthony Martin Fernando was highly commended in the John Newfong Media Prize in 2008 and received an honourable mention at imagineNATIVE, the international festival of Indigenous film and media arts in Canada. Currently, he produces Word Up, a podcast which shares Australia’s diverse Indigenous languages one word at a time.

Utp Board

Tian Zhang – Chair

Based on Dharug Country in western Sydney, Tian Zhang is an independent curator, facilitator, writer and collaborative artist working at the intersections of art, cultural practice and social change. Her practice is underscored by conversation, criticality, solidarity and joy. Tian is the author of 'A manifesto for radical care or how to be a human in the arts' (Sydney Review of Books/ Lumbung Press / Agnes Etherington) and a founding co-director of Pari, a collective-run gallery in Parramatta.

Tian’s curatorial and collaborative work has been presented at Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Customs House, Utp, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Blacktown Arts, Metro Arts, Judith Wright Centre and Brisbane Festival. In 2022, Tian participated in Documenta Fifteen as co-facilitator of Gudskul's collective studies program — living, cooking, eating, cleaning and communing within the Museum Fridericianum for 50 days. She was previously part of the inaugural Artistic Directorate of Next Wave, and Chair and Co-director at Firstdraft. 

Amanda Brisot

Amanda joined the board of Urban Theatre Projects in 2019, drawn to the company’s passion for telling the important and unique stories of Western Sydney in such an authentic and innovative way. Having grown up in the region, Amanda shares a deep appreciation for the wonderfully diverse fabric of the local community and is a passionate advocate for Western Sydney. In her current role as General Manager of Western Sydney Business Connection, Amanda has led a number of successful advocacy campaigns and programs within the region that aim to drive economic growth and positive social outcomes for the community. Amanda has more than three decades of experience in marketing, commercial partnerships and stakeholder engagement across government, private and not-for-profit sectors.

Paschal Daantos Berry

Paschal is a curator, writer, performance maker and dramaturg whose practice is focused on interdisciplinary, cross cultural, collaborative and socially engaged processes. He is a creator of award-winning performance works, an artist mentor, and has contributed works for The Australian Choreographic Centre, Canberra Youth Theatre, QL2, Performance Space, Urban Theatre Project, Radio National, Belvoir Street Theatre and Blacktown Arts amongst others. In 2022, he was in the curatorium of Rivus, the 23rd Biennale of Sydney, as well as the curator of programs for Brook Andrew’s internationally acclaimed NIRIN, the 22nd Biennale of Sydney. He has led the programs teams of Blacktown Arts, the Biennale of Sydney and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Akin Karaca

Akin (he/him) is a Chartered Accountant with extensive experience in financial management, business strategy, and leadership across diverse sectors, including SMEs and multinational corporations. He was born in Turkiye and moved to Australia in 2003. A former professional tour guide in Turkiye, he loved bringing history to life, narrating vivid stories of ancient cultures and people of Anatolia. This passion for storytelling took a turn when they became a Chartered Accountant after completing a Master of Professional Accounting at UTS. Just as he transformed historical facts into engaging tales, he now translates numbers into meaningful narratives, making the story behind the financial reports accessible and compelling to non-financial people. He joined the board of UTP in May 2024, being particularly drawn to UTP’s unique approach to art and social change.

Dr Jessica Olivieri

As above.

Theo Psychogios

Theo is a Partner with Deloitte’s Financial Advisory practice and focuses on providing services to the State, Local and Federal governments, government agencies and private sector organisations they interact with. Theo has been a lead advocate for the economic and social development of Western Sydney, starting with the ground breaking Shaping Future Cities - Designing Western Sydney report which provided an economic blueprint for the region sustainable and equitable growth. His work has influenced Government and Private sector investment in the job generators, amenity and public infrastructure and services that will underpin Western Sydney’s growth for the years to come. Theo’s professional and personal life has been heavily influenced by his Greek heritage. The lessons and experiences from his parents and extended family have forged his unwavering belief in the value of community, culture, diversity, commitment, exchange and creative expression. Celebrating the unique and shared stories of all Australian cultures, and supporting truth telling for our first nation people and artists, is something that Theo is especially passionate about.

Louana Sainsbury

Louana is a Burramattagal Darug woman who grew up on Darkinjung lands and is now living and working on the lands of the Wurundjeri peoples in Naarm.

An experienced producer and curator, her practice spans theatre & performance, contemporary art, moving image and storytelling through emergent forms. She is particularly passionate about working with other First Nations artists to champion contemporary stories and produce new works, grounded in collaboration and informed by community.

Louana has worked with an extensive network of Australian artists & arts organizations. Currently, she is a Creative Producer at Arts House, working across their program of contemporary and experimental performance and exhibitions. Previously, she has held roles at ACMI, Arts Centre Melbourne, Sydney Festival, Performing Lines, Think+DO Tank Foundation, Urban Theatre Projects, Belvoir and Bangarra Dance Theatre.

Thinesh Thillai

Thinesh is an Eelam Tamil Queer lawyer and creative hailing from Toronto, Canada. Aside from his day job as a banking lawyer, he is the creator and producer of You Have Been Told A Lie, a podcast that chronicles the journey of the Nadesalingam family and Tamil asylum seekers, geopolitics, border surveillance, and Australia’s complicity in human rights violations domestically and abroad. You Have Been Told A Lie won Best News and Affairs Podcast at the 2023 iHeart Australian Podcast Awards. He is also the creative producer of Hot Sauce, a gatherings that aim to create an intentional space to celebrate the lives of queer people of colour. Thinesh has also been involved in Community Engagement with the Darlinghurst Theatre Company, the Griffin Theatre Company, and most recently with the Belvoir Street Theatre for their productions of Holding the Man and Counting and Cracking.

Shannon Williams (Brothablack)

BrothaBlack is one of Australia's pioneers of Indigenous Hip Hop. He is a founding member of Indigenous Hop Hop. crew, South West Syndicate. In 2007 he released his first solo album 'More Than a Feeling' featuring the breakthrough single 'Are you with me out there' fast becoming an anthem for underground Hip Hop goers and added some genuine south-west side grunt to the soundtrack for Foxtel's smash hit TV series, 'Dangerous'. He has received extensive airplay on Triple J including performing a set for Live at the Wireless, broadcast in 2007. BrothaBlack is also an accomplished actor and performing with more than 200 performances under his belt. He featured on the Foreign Heights track 'Get Yours (Remix' nominated for the 0207 ARIA Award for Best Urban Release. BrothaBlack also appeared as the studio host in Move It Mob Style seasons 1, 2 and 3 nominated in 2012 for The ASTRA Awards Most Outstanding Children's Program or Event and in 2014 for Most Outstanding Children's Program at the 56th annual TV Week Logie Awards.

Mouna Zaylah

Mouna Zaylah is Arab Australian born and raised in Western Sydney. She is an arts and cultural development worker with over 25 years experience working in the community arts and cultural development sector and local government. She is currently the Business and Engagement Manager at Campbelltown Arts Centre, Campbelltown City Council overseeing the operations, education and public programs, community and audience engagement, grants and funding. She was Co-Director of the Arab Film Festival 2007-2017. From 2015 to 2020 she was a member of the NSW Film and Television Industry Advisory Committee (Screen NSW). In 2019 she joined the Create NSW Multi-Artform Board. Between 1999 and 2016 she worked for Information and Cultural Exchange managing artistic and cultural programs, producing resources for artists and communities, coordinating cultural events, performance and screen-based projects with artists, community groups and organisations. She works across sectors including community, arts, screen, technology and business. Mouna has also worked for Urban Theatre Projects in administration and as a project officer (1992-1997). She has also worked for Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre in administration, curatorial and project coordinator roles (1997-1999) and a range of other community and youth based organisations as a freelance arts administrator, project coordinator and cultural consultant.