MERRYN works with arts organisations of all shapes and sizes, anywhere in Australia, in marketing planning, marketing strategy development, audience development, audience research, ticketing evaluation, program planning, business planning, strategy, business development and governance. Her experience includes arts venue management and community cultural development programs for local government, senior marketing roles with large organisations, and consulting in marketing, research and audience development for a wide range of organisations nationally including visual arts, crafts and design, festivals, regional performing arts centres, art galleries, major performing arts companies, dance and commercial arts organisations. For a total of over ten years she worked as a member of the senior management team (as Marketing Director) for Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She has also worked as marketing mentor with regional performing arts organisations, indigenous arts organisations, and individual artists keen to build their client bases and grow their business.

Since 2010 she has been exploring the links between programming and audience development in her work with clients including Performing Arts Connections Australia, Regional Arts Victoria, the Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres, and CircuitWest, and is working to stimulate discussion, research and understanding around the most effective ways to develop audiences for the arts, and the role that programming plays in that development.

Merryn has a strong interest in good governance, and has held several board positions. She was a board member of Red Stitch Actors Theatre 2012 – 2017.

Originally trained as a musician (she holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Melbourne), she is also a graduate of the Master of Business Administration program at Melbourne Business School.

Based in Melbourne, Merryn is happy to travel for clients anywhere in Australia and New Zealand.

CONTACT email: merryn[at]merryncarter.com.au   phone:  +61 (0)414 766 173