Heart Of Gold General Manager

HEART OF GOLD ANNOUNCES GENERAL MANAGER

Media Release – issued October 7, 2009

Just weeks after announcing Malcolm Blaylock as the new artistic director of the Heart of Gold International Film Festival, organisers have proudly announced that Debra Myers has been appointed as General Manager of the festival for 2010.

Originally from the lower Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, Debra’s studied at University of South Australia and University of the Sunshine Coast, but it’s been her Australian adventures (from time in Margaret River in W.A to Strahan in Tasmania and from Thursday Island to Coolum) that have formed a fresh and educated cultural approach to the her latest professional journey.

Following time in Japan, Debra returned to Australia in 2002 where a passion for events and festivals began in Adelaide. She worked on the UN’s International Day of Peace and the work of Peace One Day, which included film screenings and an art exhibition.

This led to work with Adelaide Festival of Arts multi-venue and art-form festivals, but it was following her work on the festival in 2006 that Debra decided to pursue working on indigenous communities. She began working through the organisation Ananguku Arts, supporting remote indigenous artists from the APY Lands in South Australia.

Debra was then seconded to organise a conference for indigenous artists from across South Australia, co-organising the two-day music, arts and traditional dance festival in the APY Lands to celebrate 25 years since their land was handed back to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara people – an amazing event!

In June 2007, Debra became Manager at Ernabella Arts, a role she has held until her recent appointment with HOGIFF. One of the highlights in her role included helping the artists to organise an event to celebrate the 60 year anniversary of their art centre, the oldest Indigenous arts and crafts centre in Australia. The attached photo was taken at the event with Gordon, a community elder, and the Pitjantjtjara Choir master.

Now, Debra is about to apply her many and varied talents to her next adventure at the Heart of Gold International Film Festival. With uplifting and positive themes at the centre of all entries to the festival, Debra seems to be the right choice to steer the HOGIFF board members, sponsors and volunteers in an exciting new direction in 2010.