Festival Patron
Berek Segan AM OBE
Life Members
Michael Bottomley
Phee Broadway OAM
Mary Harris
Geoff Hocking
Lyndal McClure
Ian O’Halloran OAM
Val Victor-Gordon
Christopher Whitehead
Festival Board
Chair: Julie Millowick
Deputy Chair: Mandy Grinblat
Secretary: Michelle Coillet
Treasurer: Lucy Roffey
Mark Anstey, Anthony Bateman, Janice Burgess, Louise Clarke, Gary McClure, Lindsay Moore, Sue Sweetland, Michael Wolfe
Festival Director – Martin Paten
The 2015 Castlemaine State Festival will be Martin Paten’s fourth as Director. In this role Martin has taken the 2009, 2011 and 2013 Festivals to unprecedented levels of creative and financial success achieving widespread acclaim.
Martin’s vision for the Festival as both a showcase opportunity for the enormous wealth of local artistic endeavour, and as a platform for the presentation of entirely new works in a regional based – yet international festival – is further enabled through the expertise of an exemplary festival team. An extensive network of dedicated volunteers together with the financial commitment of government and NGO bodies, philanthropic individuals and organisations ensure the Castlemaine State Festival’s continued success.
Martin came to the Castlemaine State Festival with 13 years’ experience directing and managing public festivals in central and suburban Melbourne. He has directed the Moonee Valley Festival, overseen the strategic direction of Melbourne Moomba Festival and managed funding relationships with many of Melbourne’s major international festivals including Melbourne’s Arts, Fringe, Comedy, Film, Jazz, Midsumma and Next Wave Festivals.
Martin left the City of Melbourne in December 2007 after a 10 year career managing a team delivering Melbourne’s Public Art and Laneway Commissions, Melbourne Conversations, City Music and Art and Heritage Collection.
Martin lives locally in the beautiful town of Vaughan, 10 minutes from Castlemaine. He is married with two children.
Festival Team
Festival Director: Martin Paten
General Manager: Helen Baker
Development Manager: Elissa O’Connor
Production Manager: Jim Austin
Marketing and Community Programs Coordinator: Angelica Clunes
Patrons and Donors Manager: Val Victor-Gordon
Hospitality Coordinator: Lindy Ralph
Box Office Coordinator: Julia Mant
Finance Coordinator: Kerry Bourke
Volunteers Coordinator: Lyndal McClure
Administration Support: Lil Balmer, Jill Bryan, Lorrainne Callister, Robyn Fleury, Mary Harris, Kerry Parker, Maxine Tester.
Opening Event Artistic Producer: Jude Anderson
Visual Arts Program Coordinator Curator: Deborah Ratliff
Public Spaces Designer: Ulrike von Radichevich
Education Program Coordinator: Linda Browne
Story Program Coordinator: Lisa D’Onofrio
Print Design and Management: Meg Norris Design
Festival Identity: Design By Committee
Web Design and Management: Greengraphics
Publicist: Pia Johnson
Proof reader: Eve Merton
Photography Management: Julie Millowick
Our thanks
The Board and staff of the Castlemaine State Festival wish to thank all of our sponsors, donors & supporters, and the many volunteers who are integral to the success of the Festival.