Dean Merlino is an internationally recognised educator and leading arts and culture professional. He specialises in the assessment and development of engagement practices for both the creative and tertiary education sectors. Having worked with arts organisations, government agencies and universities all over the world, Dean has also published extensively in the field.
For ten years, he was Coordinator of Teaching and Learning with the Centre for Cultural Partnerships, at the University of Melbourne. In this academic role, located within the Victorian College of the Arts, Dean designed and led the Master of Community Cultural Development, Graduate Certificate in Arts and Community Engagement and several minor courses. Graduates from these programs have gone on to significant roles within the arts and community sectors nationally.
In 2017, he lectured at Federation University (Gippsland Campus), and participated in the redeveloped the Gippsland Centre for Art and Design (GCAD). In 2018-2019, Dean was employed by the University of Melbourne Chancellery to develop the university’s Graduate Researcher Professional Development strategy.
Dean is an expert in the following areas:
Policy, strategy and program development in the arts, creative industries and cultural development
Advisor on community-engaged and cultural activation practices in Australia, the UK, Canada, the United States and New Zealand
Advisor on strategic development across the arts and creative sectors
Developed and led graduate coursework program in engaged arts practices at the Centre for Cultural Partnerships, Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, The University of Melbourne, which was Australia’s premier program in Community Cultural Development for ten years
A leader in the field of community partnerships, stakeholder relationships and cultural value assessment
Experienced in community consultation and stakeholder management
Collaborated with major arts organisations across Australia (Australia Council for the Arts, The Arts Centre (Melbourne), Federation Square Corporation and the Cultural Development Network)
Arts and culture policy advisor to government agencies (Creative Victoria, Municipal Association of Victoria), local government (City of Yarra, Darebin City Council and Maribyrnong City Council) and international NGOs (World Vision)
Brokered research and teaching partnerships with community arts organisations (Regional Arts Victoria, Footscray Community Arts Centre, Multicultural Art Victoria, Community Music Victoria, Arts Access Victoria)
A driver of practice-based, creative and engaged research and teaching methodologies in the world arena
Highly experienced in a range of creative and culture-based research practices including Practice as Research
Successful in building relationships and research partnerships between the arts and creative sectors and the university sector
An academic publication history specialising in engaged practices
Advisor to community engagement programs at universities in Canada, The United States, he United Kingdom, Singapore and New Zealand
International Monitor (2017-2018) Toi Whakaari Drama School, New Zealand
An accomplished graduate research strategist and professional development educator
Developed the Graduate Research Professional Development and Supervisor Development strategies for The University of Melbourne
Co-led the Researcher Capability Development Framework project
Chair of the Graduate Research Professional Development Network and co-chair of the University of Melbourne Industry Advisory Committee
Worked closely with the Graduate Student Association, University of Melbourne
Dean holds the following professional affiliations:
Board Member, Community Music Victoria
Arts and Culture Specialist, Outside Opinion, Higher Education Consultants
Community Engagement and Cultural Value Specialist, Randall Arts Management
Member and Sound Artist, Drawing Open International Research Community
Composer, The FRM, Multimedia collaboration with Visual Artist Emma Febvre-Richards
Member, Musicological Association of Australia
Dean has also trained as a flautist at The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and has a successful performing, composing and teaching career spanning a range of musical genres. He recently had work in the 10th Encuentro Conference and Exhibition (Santander, Spain) and Lux Light Festival (Wellington, New Zealand). CONTACT DEAN for a complete CV.
