About Us
about act natimuk
ACT Natimuk is a not-for-profit arts and cultural organisation based in the town of Natimuk, located on Wotjobaluk/Jadawadjali Country in the Wimmera region of Western Victoria.
Established in 1986 as Arapiles Community Theatre, the organisation has evolved over the years to support a diverse range of creative disciplines, including dance, visual arts, film, and experimental performance.
Our mission is to foster cultural agency and creative independence through collaborative, place-based art practices. We achieve this by providing professional, project, and resource support across our Event, Skills and Support arms.
ACT Natimuk is governed by a seven-member board, comprising a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and three Committee Members. The board’s strength lies in its ability to adapt and mobilise its collective talents to deliver creative and responsive projects and events. This model has enabled the organisation to achieve a high level of cultural agency and creative independence. In addition to its board, ACT Natimuk employs a small number of part-time staff, including a General Manager, Frinj Festival Director, and Creative Services Producer, supported through funding from Creative Victoria’s multi-year funding program.
Through our diverse programs and initiatives, ACT Natimuk continues to nurture artistic excellence, cultural exchange, and community connection, contributing to the vibrant cultural landscape of regional Victoria.
2026 BOARD, COMMITTEE & STAFF
EXECUTIVE BOARD
CHAIR
DR JACQUIE TINKLER
Originally from Melbourne, Jacquie was an art teacher in several rural secondary schools and worked in community and adult education as a project manager and teaching computers and multimedia. While completing her PhD in educational technologies at Melbourne University, she took a lecturing position at Charles Sturt University, lecturing and researching the use of digital technologies in education, as well as online learning design for university students with poor mental health and neurodivergence. She is now the Sub-Dean of Learning and Teaching at Charles Sturt University, where she loves to share her passion for teaching more broadly.
A very new resident in Natimuk, she began visiting the area to go climbing with her son 15 years ago and is now the proud new owner of The Goat Gallery, where she plans to create a vibrant, creative, and mischievous space for the arts community of Natimuk and the Wimmera. Jacquie is also a practising artist in a range of mediums including ceramics, drawing, photography, and most recently, work generated by artificial intelligence. Jacquie came onboard as interim Vic Chair in 2024, continued in the role in 2025 and stepped into the role of Chair in 2026.
VICE CHAIR
DR D’ARCY MOLAN
Dr D’Arcy Molan is a musician, composer, writer, and academic researcher based in Natimuk. He has performed solo, with bands, and in multidisciplinary art projects throughout Australia and New Zealand.
D’Arcy’s PhD research investigates creative practices and cultural ties that are specific to places in the Wimmera by both non-indigenous and First Nations Wotjobaluk artists. His thesis is partly a case study of Natimuk (and ACT Natimuk) that looks into the processes and outcomes of community art and inter-cultural collaborations through place-based art. He works on rural and regional research projects for Deakin University (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the School of Communication and Creative Arts) and the University of Canberra (Project Officer in the Faculty of Health).
D’Arcy joined as a member of ACT Natimuk in 2019. He came aboard as Vice Chair in 2021 , Chair since 2023 and stepped down into the role of Vice Chair in 2026.
SECRETARY
SONYA COLBERT
Sonya is a long-time visitor to Natimuk and the surrounding area, and is now delighted to call it home. With a background in commercial photography, her creative interests extend across cinema, architecture, music and literature. She also has a history of being on committees as a Secretary.
A lover of the outdoors, Sonya can often be found riding her gravel bike, hiking, climbing or running. She has been a regular attendee of Natimuk’s arts events, including the Nati Frinj Festival. She is a dedicated volunteer coordinator on the Palais de Pixel program offering and is excited to contribute to ACT Natimuk as Secretary and support the development of future arts projects.
TREASURER
ROSS TINKLER
Ross is a newcomer to ACT Natimuk and the town, and brings a wealth of organisational experience from many years in the Department of Education as a Regional Manager in Adult and Community Education. He has long had an interest in the arts since art was his favourite subject at school, and has continued to develop his own drawing and sculpting skills ever since. An enthusiastic supporter of the arts and its importance in communities, he is excited to be a part of such a vibrant and successful arts organisation.
committee
DR GILLIAN TURNER
Gillian is an experienced educator, writer, musician and award-winning visual art practitioner. Her studio work is based in Clifton Springs, Victoria, where she is involved with local art groups. She is a regular contributor to the Natimuk Frinj Biennale, the annual Arts Trail on the North Bellarine, and National Celtic Festival, Portarlington. Gillian is also a Certified Therapeutic Musician, and part of the Pastoral team at Epworth Hospital, Geelong. She was President of the Volunteer Guides at the Geelong Gallery for a number of years, and is actively involved as a mentor for senior arts students at a local secondary college.
Gillian has had experience with committee processes and governance as a member of Springdale Neighbourhood House Committee of Management for two years, and served on various committees including VIGEX International Photographic Exhibition committee, Geelong.
TANJA GOLDING
Tanja Golding is a new member of ACT Natimuk. A Natimuk resident and avid rock climber working in outdoor education, Tanja is a passionate supporter and attendee of the arts, especially visual and performance art. Previously a lawyer and also holding a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne, she brings a multidisciplinary perspective and contribution to ACT Natimuk. Tanja also loves to dance, and currently convenes a monthly dance event, No Need For Rhythm, a free-form low lights dance experience, in Natimuk.
ALISON EGGLETON
Alison Eggleton is an independent curator and cultural producer whose practice is shaped by over 15 years of sustained engagement with contemporary art across regional Victoria. She has curated more than 80 exhibitions, spanning temporary, collaborative, and collection-based projects, and has developed public programs that foster meaningful dialogue between artists, audiences, and place. Her curatorial methodology extends beyond the public gallery to include collaborations with not-for-profit organisations and arts festivals in non-conventional space. She was the Festival Director of Nati Frinj Biennale 2025, where she advanced the visual arts and performance program through community-engaged models of practice. In the same year she curated the opening exhibition titled ‘A Place to Gather’ at the relaunch of the Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery in November 2025.
Living in Natimuk since 2012, she has embraced bushwalking and explored body movement through rock climbing, circus practice, and Japanese Butoh dance. Her project-based visual art practice centres on drawing and sculptural installation, with works featured in regional events such as the Natimuk Open Studio Artist Trail (2021–2024), the Nati Frinj Festival (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022), Lost in Sculpture in Dunkeld (2009–2011), and international collaborations at the Melaka Arts and Performance Festival (MAP Fest) in Malaysia (2014, 2016) with artist Anthony Pelchen.
staff
GENERAL MANAGER
TRACEY SKINNER
Tracey Skinner is a multidisciplinary artist and creative producer originally from Melbourne. With a strong foundation in the performing arts, she has studied and worked internationally as a vocalist and dancer in Melbourne, London, and Japan. Her passion for visual expression led her into the world of textile arts, with a particular focus on screen printing and costume design. An RMIT alumna, she runs a small creative studio in Natimuk that offers movement classes and a print-based art space.
Over the years, she has built a broad skill set across the arts, community engagement, and project management through her work with various not-for-profit organisations. Since joining ACT Natimuk as General Manager in 2020—following several years on the committee—she has embraced the dynamic demands of the role, balancing arts administration with creative production. Her producing credits include Grist, Natimuk Open Studios Art Trail, Goatfest, Gatherings (2022–23, Northern Grampians Shire), and Nati Frinj (Production Manager, 2022). In 2022, Tracey was selected for the Local Giants Regional Producer Program, furthering her commitment to producing impactful regional arts initiatives. She also works independently with Black Hole Theatre as a producer.
CREATIVE SERVICES PRODUCER
VERITY HIGGINS
Since graduating from the VCA, Verity has worked as a director, actor, project co-coordinator, and lecturer in performing arts.
In 2005 Verity worked in the UK as Assistant Director and actor for North Country Theatre. On returning to Australia she took up a position of Regional Arts Development Officer with Regional Arts Victoria, based in Ballarat. During her time as a RADO Verity coordinated a wide range of regional projects. Her independently produced documentary about a community choir The Big Sing, was acquired and broadcast on the ABC in 2010.
Since returning to freelance work at the end of 2013 Verity has worked as a freelance director, actor & producer. Her most recent theatre work The Freda Experience, about pioneering Australian mountaineer Freda du Faur, had sell out seasons at both the Castlemaine State Festival and NatiFrinj in 2015. Verity coordinated the large-scale environmental knitting project, WARM for SEAM in 2016.
Verity started working for ACT Natimuk on Made in Natimuk from late 2014.
Over the years, she has built a broad skill set across the arts, community engagement, and project management through her work with various not-for-profit organisations. Since joining ACT Natimuk as General Manager in 2020—following several years on the committee—she has embraced the dynamic demands of the role, balancing arts administration with creative production. Her producing credits include Grist, Natimuk Open Studios Art Trail, Goatfest, Gatherings (2022–23, Northern Grampians Shire), and Nati Frinj (Production Manager, 2022). In 2022, Tracey was selected for the Local Giants Regional Producer Program, furthering her commitment to producing impactful regional arts initiatives. She also works independently with Black Hole Theatre as a producer.
NATI FRINJ DIRECTOR
2026-27 FRINJ DIRECTOR
ARE YOU THE NEXT NATI FRINJ FESTIVAL DIRECTOR?
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE 2026/27 ROLE.
CHECK HERE FOR THE FULL POSITION DESCRIPTION.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE 15TH MAY 2026
Commitment to Reconciliation
ACT Natimuk acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, work, and create. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We are committed to embedding Reconciliation in our creative practice—honouring the stories, knowledge, and artistry of the world’s oldest living cultures. Through community arts, site-specific storytelling, and meaningful partnerships, we strive to elevate First Nations voices and support cultural exchange.
We invite all our collaborators to walk alongside us in this ongoing journey toward a more inclusive and truthful creative future.
WANT MORE DETAILS ON ACT NATIMUK?
If you would like to learn more about what we do and what we have done, our Annual Reports and Strategic Plans can be viewed here
