“Dean Merlino helped me gain direction in my artistic career when I was at a crossroads, contemplating further academic studies, creative entrepreneurship or leaving the artworld. Dean is passionate about ideas and sharing knowledge. He has a wonderfully broad knowledge base. Our conversations were always stimulating, inspiring and targeted towards me in relation to the situation I was experiencing. Dean’s kind, considered and informed coaching and advice supported me on my path to apply for a PhD.

Once I decided to undertake this path, Dean was proactive in supporting me (through encouragement and critical feedback) to reach milestones that would support my application.

I endorse Dean Merlino as someone with rich academic and creative experience to provide motivating coaching and mentorship. Drawing upon my experience, Dean can engage with you where you are at and he will be kind and strategic to help you reach your goals.”

“Working with Dean was such a great experience and just what I needed at a point of transition in my career. He was invaluable in conceptualising a creative project I was working on, especially in strengthening practical areas and a business case. In addition to this, he gave me practical career advice and positive reinforcement to follow my ambitions. I felt that Dean was honest and enthusiastic, offering real-world advice and goal-oriented tasks between our meetings. I would recommend Dean’s services to other creatives who are looking to progress their career or projects.”

“As a teacher and a mentor, Dean has helped me unify my film art, disability art and justice activism practices into a cultural praxis. By using robust theoretical frameworks, he asks the hard questions that pushed me out of my comfort zone, forcing me to challenge my assumptions and their implications and develop meaningful impact strategies in my projects and responsibilities. Dean is very generous with his knowledge and gave me the skills to continue developing and interrogating my practice independently.

Dean’s unique mentoring skills are powerful and transformative. He doesn’t beat about the bush, and his knowledge and understanding of engaged arts, cultural organisation, and how to build a meaningful career is unparalleled.”

“I have worked with Dean over many years in different settings and watched him in lectures and how he works with his students and colleagues. I have witnessed his focus from engaging with individuals in a classroom, through to working on projects with specific consideration to detail. Dean has brought innovative thought and consideration to each of our activities.”

“I’ve known Dean since the early 2000s and have worked with him in creative social action and academic contexts. It has been inspiring witnessing him reach a level of mastery in his creative, research and pedagogical practices. He never seems to stop growing and his thirst for knowledge and for improving his own capacity to support the work of others is even more dynamic and vibrant now, than ever before. A polymath, his diamond sharp mind with its rigorous, grounded understandings of history and theory weaves together with a warm, playful and expansive artistic side. I always trust that if Dean’s on the case, whatever he is working on will come off with flying colours. I have respect for both the way he is genuinely interested in creating a world that works for people, and for his efforts to support projects that do just that. I’ve always enjoyed working with Dean and would encourage anyone who is serious about doing great community arts projects, and fostering sustainable careers in the engaged arts/research sectors, to get him in their corner. It’s like having your very own ‘Deanie in a bottle’.”