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Carrillo Gantner

Former Chairman, Asialink, The University of Melbourne

Carrillo Gantner AO was appointed President of the Melbourne Festival Board by the Minister for the Arts in January 2010.

Carrillo has a BA from the University of Melbourne, a Master of Fine Arts (Drama) from Stanford, California, and a Graduate Diploma in Arts Administration from Harvard. He trained as an actor and worked professionally in the USA before returning to Australia in 1969. He was the first Drama Officer at the Australia Council for the Arts 1970-1973 and General Manager of the Melbourne Theatre Company from 1973-1975. He was a Founding Director of the Malthouse Theatre Company, Executive Director from 1976-1984 and Artistic Director from 1988 until the end of 1993. From 1985 to 1987 he was Counsellor (Cultural) at the Australian Embassy in Beijing.

Carrillo has acted in over forty professional productions. He has brought many Asian performing artists and companies to Australia and initiated many exchanges with the region.

Carrillo was Chair of the Performing Arts Board and a member of the Australia Council 1990-1993. He was a member of the Australia-China Council 1989-1994. He was appointed a Governor of the Federation for Asian Cultural Promotion in January 1995 and was elected Deputy Chairman of this regional organisation in 1999. He was Chairman of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for six years to March 2000, of Asialink from 1992-2006 and President of the Victorian Arts Centre Trust from 2000-2009. He is Chairman of the Sidney Myer Fund and was President of The Myer Foundation from 2004 to 2009.

Carrillo was elected as a Councillor of the City of Melbourne for three years from March 1996. He was Chairman of the City's Planning and Development Committee for two years, Chairman of the Docklands Committee and Deputy Chairman of the Finance Committee as well as having "portfolio" responsibility for cultural development.

He is also a director of several companies, including one in Vietnam and another in Hong Kong.

Experience

  • 2010–present
    President, Melbourne International Arts Festival
  • 2000–2009
    President, Victorian Arts Centre Trust

Education

  • 1972 
    Institute of Arts Administration, Harvard University, Graduate Diploma
  • 1968 
    Stanford University, Master of Fine Arts (Drama)
  • 1965 
    University of Melbourne, Bachelor of Arts