Dean Merlino is an internationally recognised educator and leading arts and culture professional. In his decades of teaching experience, he focused twelve of those years on the engaged arts field. Dean’s expertise is built on his experience in the engaged arts sector. Using rigorous pedagogical research, he has developed and refined educational methods. That is participatory, engaging and genuinely transformative. Dean expertly guides students in developing artistic practices that are meaningful and sustainable as careers, with long-lasting impacts for communities and stakeholders alike. In one hand, Dean holds a community of scholarly practitioners. With the other, he refines and tailors the experience for each individual.
Dean has developed curriculum in key areas including:
Theories of engagement and cultural development
Current policy and the creation of social value
Artistic and creative research methodologies
Rethinking cultural engagement practices and processes
Project development and evaluation
Sustainable business models for engaged practice
Career planning and practice development
Dean has supervised and mentored dozens of artists and cultural workers in formal and informal educational settings. He provides:
Reviews and evaluations of practices and projects
Minor thesis and graduate research supervision in engaged and creative practices
Self-evaluation methods that enable students to develop an independent and critical eye on their practice
As a successful musician, Dean has performed and recorded across numerous genres. He also teaches across a range of music practices including:
Community music practices
Organising and hosting community music events
Collaboration with non-musicians
Practical career skills to maximise rehearsal methods and personnel management
Songwriting – mainly composing for voice and melody instruments, musical counterpoint and working with odd time signatures
Add the qualities of greater depth and an international perspective to your students’ experience; CONTACT DEAN to find out about course content and delivery.
