Samara Cunningham Email & Phone Number

I am passionate about leading inclusive arts experiences for diverse and marginalised people living in regional Australia. My work is founded on the belief that everyone can contribute to an authentic artistic experience. This attitude has led me to develop artistic practices that build relationships, affirm lives, and reframe assumptions of aesthetic value. I am the founding director of (it’s no) drama, a disabled-led, not-for-profit arts company in South Gippsland, and I run regular community performance projects for people of all ages and abilities in my community. Through this work, I have been able to encourage others to discover, or rediscover their passion for creative arts experiences. My childhood in North-West Tasmania influenced my understanding of the transformative effects of the arts on people’s lives. My own dance and drama experiences led to a Bachelor in Performing Arts and Graduate Diploma in Education (Dance/Drama) at WAAPA, Edith Cowan University. Working as a performer, choreographer and community arts practitioner has afforded me with opportunities to bring the arts to others, especially in regional areas of WA during the early 2000s. From 2005, I continued this work in Melbourne through funded projects and more defined periods of employment as a teacher, arts manager, and arts marketing officer. In 2013, I made South Gippsland, in regional Victoria, my family’s home. Since then, I have focused my practice on designing and delivering accessible community arts projects. It's here that my leadership and creative philosophy has matured, allowing me to fill small halls and performance spaces around the area with multi-discipline performance and multimedia projects for people of all ages and abilities: ‘Fill the Void’ (2021), ‘Action Station’ (2022), ‘Front Foot | Back Beat’ (2023), ‘Everyone Can Dance' (2023), ‘Wild Woods’ (2023), and 'No Sudden Moves' (2023).

• Artistic Director

  (It'S No) Drama Ltd

  Jan 2017 - Present - Fish Creek, Victoria, Australia

  (it’s no) drama is a physical theatre ensemble for individuals with and without disability living in South Gippsland. The ensemble explores ideas and stories that express diverse ways of seeing and being in the world. (it’s no) drama is committed to artistic excellence in practice and performance. It forges strong connections with professional artists locally and abroad to ensure its performance work and community outreach workshops are situated firmly in the contemporary, professional theatre… Show more (it’s no) drama is a physical theatre ensemble for individuals with and without disability living in South Gippsland. The ensemble explores ideas and stories that express diverse ways of seeing and being in the world. (it’s no) drama is committed to artistic excellence in practice and performance. It forges strong connections with professional artists locally and abroad to ensure its performance work and community outreach workshops are situated firmly in the contemporary, professional theatre and performance realm. Show less

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  Edith Cowan University

  Bachelor Of Performing Arts