Jonathan Hodge

Hi, I’m Jonathan …

For more than twenty years, I’ve had the privilege of working with artists, communities and organisations to create experiences that bring people together.

My career has taken me across Australia, New Zealand and Asia, producing festivals, leading arts organisations and developing cultural programs that range from large-scale commercial productions to grassroots community initiatives.

I’ve never been interested in putting on events for their own sake. What excites me is building organisations and projects that have a lasting impact—creating opportunities for artists, strengthening communities and making culture an important part of everyday life.

That means balancing creative ambition with practical leadership: developing strategy, building partnerships, securing funding, managing teams and making sure the countless moving parts behind the scenes come together.

I’m equally at home working with artists, boards, government, sponsors and community organisations, and I genuinely enjoy bringing different people around the same table. Some of my favourite moments have come from watching an idea evolve through collaboration into something that audiences connect with in ways none of us could have predicted.

In recent years I’ve focused on festival leadership, including my work as Executive Producer of the Australian Musical Theatre Festival, where I’ve helped grow audiences, strengthen partnerships and improve the festival’s long-term sustainability while working alongside an exceptional Artistic Director and Board.

The projects I’ve been drawn to all have one thing in common: they’re rooted in place and in people. I believe the arts are at their best when they reflect the communities they serve, create opportunities for participation and leave people feeling more connected than when they arrived.

At the end of the day, I’m simply someone who loves helping good ideas become great experiences. If a project has the potential to inspire people, strengthen a community or tell an important story, that’s the kind of work I want to be part of.