Jill Morgan

Multicultural Arts Victoria, CEO

A once-upon-a-time blank canvas seated at the tip of the unrelenting strokes of a career dipped in artistic ambition, 25-year veteran and Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV) chief executive officer, Jill Morgan, is today the focal point of an illustrious gallery which remains the spectacle of many. Positioned at the helm of Australia’s glistening multiculturalism movement, the prominent head of industry charts a well-seeded legacy dedicated towards championing the continuity and relevance of cultural cohesion amidst ethnic diversity specifically through the arts.

While the journey down this road has been no walk in the park, her life’s story, sprinkled with unending tenacity and founded upon sincerity in its most basic form, is truly telling when deciphered through her mind’s eye. “The arts bring people together and can enhance cultural pride and well-being within communities. Cultural diversity can be at the heart of new contemporary works and innovation,” Morgan, the once Executive Director of Kulcha, Multicultural Arts of Western Australia, candidly shares.

Commenting on the arena’s role as a sustainable support system for both the present and future generations, the MAV leader explains how as a double-pronged tool, the arts serve as a fresh, creative, and inspiring voice which bridges the gap between colour and creed whilst making room for cultural dialogue and a shared understanding with and through youth. Having once herself been a vibrant, young lady whose immersion into the world of arts and culture was sparked by a genuine love of drama and theatre alongside a fascination towards literature and history, it’s no wonder her passion for education rings true to this day.

In her fight to preserve the sanctity of a universe where old meets new, the well-traversed Morgan has been indefatigable in her efforts to translate into activity, her underlying message which speaks of enriching individuals and society in general as well as carving from struggle, innovation, redefined identities, and newfound economic and social prowess for a healthier morrow. In defining her vision, she notes: “Culture and identity is central to the well-being of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Arts programmes are an active and tangible way to connect cultures and to educate others about difference.”

For the reasons above, part of MAV’s process and programmes for social inclusion comprise collaborations with the Arts Centre Melbourne, Recital Centre, Melbourne Theatre Company, and Melbourne Festival, among others, to actively promote diversity through the arts whilst protecting the rights, values, and beliefs of refugees and migrants. According to the visionary, arts projects that present positive non-stereotyped images and stories of indigenous groups and artists play a pivotal role in ensuing equity, raising awareness, building self-worth, encouraging community pride, stimulating long-term growth, and formulating respect.

Determined to walk a mile in the footsteps of the late great Nelson Mandela, Morgan is quick to echo the sentiments found in the hugely celebrated political icon’s book, Long Walk to Freedom, when probed on her source of inspiration: “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

While the aforementioned accolade was accepted on behalf of Multicultural Arts Victoria, Morgan herself was voted in as a Member of the Order of Australia in 2013 while having been newly called upon to receive the Facilitators Prize at this year’s Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards. Joining an elite list of industry movers and shakers, her sense of fulfilment comes from seeing young people celebrate their cultural heritage as proud Australians. For Morgan, that alone is the ultimate reward and true motivation behind her wanting to press on.

So much so, even when afforded the luxury of time to pursue her personal passions, the family-friendly cat-lover and creative curator is hardly one to wander far from the warm embrace of artistic endeavour. It is safe to conclude that the very essence of her being best finds solace in offerings that capture beauty in naturalness be it through the arts, film, photography, travel, or simply gardening. By her own admission, she enjoys growing organic herbs and vegetables.

An avid traveller not spared the pleasure of exploring multiple global heritage sites like Hampi, Borobudur, The Great Wall, Angor Temple Complex, Bagan, Luang Prabang, Ha Long Bay, Melaka, and Georgetown, her round-the-world adventures are only just beginning.

“I like to travel to Asia and am keen to visit Jaipur, Rajasthan and other parts of India by train to experience the music, food, culture, and dance of that region. I wish also to travel to specific parts of Africa; Ethiopia, Senegal, and Mali. Then, there is Mexico, Sri Lanka, and Colombia.”

As to what the future holds for Jill Morgan, she plans on spending the next five years still discovering what she calls amazing world culture and the arts and the five years after that, doing precisely the same thing. Truly, to be able to devote one’s existence to doing what she loves the most and then finding fun ways to embed her interests into her everyday living is testament that dreams do come true when pursued with the purest of intentions, and without leaving a single stone unturned.

自小就对艺术充满兴趣的吉尔摩根，经过25年的奋斗，如今在城中备受推崇的一个杰出艺术馆，维多利亚多元文化艺术馆担任首席执行员的职位，成为焦点。身为澳洲多元文化运动的掌舵人，这名在业界杰出的推手希望在多元种族之间，能通过艺术而产生一股文化凝聚力。

要达到这个目标，不是一件轻松的事，但她总是可以以无休止的坚韧及热诚，将脑海中想象的目标化为真实。曾在西澳Kulcha多元文化中心担任执行董事的摩根表示：「艺术能把人们团结在一起，并在小区内缔造文化优越感及幸福感。文化多样性可以成为当代艺术的主轴。」

询及维多利亚多元文化艺术馆该如何为现今及未来一代，建立一个可永续性发展的支持系统时，她说，该艺术馆可扮演双管齐下的角色，通过新兴、创意及启发性的抒发，让不同肤色的年轻人进行跨文化对话，促进了解。当她还是少女，身上每个细胞都充满活力的时候，沉浸于浪漫的爱情戏剧及电影，对文学及历史产生迷恋，这也难怪她对于文化及艺术的热情能坚持至今。

在古老与现代交汇，新与旧交融的时候，历经千锤百炼的摩根总是可以不懈地以行动落实。她要传达的信息是，艺术能更丰富化这个社会及个体，并且，为更美好的明天，雕塑出一个奋斗、创新、重获定义的经济及社会体制。「不同文化及语言背景的人们，能通过文化及身分缔造康乐及安宁，而艺术活动则能很真实性地把文化都衔接起来，教育人与人之间的差异。」

基于上述原因，维多利亚多元文化艺术馆与墨尔本文化中心、演奏中心、墨尔本剧团及墨尔本节庆策划团体，积极地举办多项活动，希望从艺术去推广多元性，同时间，也希望保护着难民及移民的人权、价值及信仰。她的见解是，艺术项目必须能以积极正面、非刻板印象地去诉说本土艺术家及团体，只有这样，才能在促进平等、提高醒觉、建立自我价值、增长小区荣耀、刺激长期成长及塑造相互尊重上，发挥举足轻重的作用。

在拜读过向已故伟人纳尔逊曼德拉致敬的《曼德拉:漫漫自由路》传记片后，摩根情感共鸣。曼德拉的其中一句名言「没有人生来就会因为一个人的肤色、背景或宗教而憎恨他人。人们必须学会恨，如果他们能学会恨，他们就能学会爱，因为爱比恨能更加自然地进入人心里。」，更是对摩根启发良多。

上述奖项是摩根代表维多利亚多元文化艺术馆领取的，而她本人，则在2013年荣获澳洲勋章AM成员奖(Member of the Order of Australia)，并在今年刚在悉尼麦尔表演艺术颁奖礼荣膺「推进者」奖。虽然已在业界登上精英的超凡地位，但她最大的成就是看到年轻人庆祝他们的文化遗产时产生的荣耀感。对于摩根来说，这就是推动她继续前进的动力及奖励。

正因如此，即使可以优先考虑追求个人的激情，但这名猫咪爱好者及创意策划人，还是想从艺术创作中取得温暖。她总是能从捕捉住自然美感的艺术、电影、摄影、旅游，或者园艺中，找到慰藉。她坦言，很喜欢种植有机香草和蔬菜。

热衷于旅游的她，曾到访多个国际上著名的遗产城，包括印度亨比、印度尼西亚婆罗浮屠、中国长城、吴哥窟、缅甸蒲甘、寮国琅勃拉邦、越南下龙湾、马六甲及槟城乔治市。对她来说，环游世界的旅程才正要开始。「我很喜欢到亚洲旅游，很期待可以到印度斋浦尔一游，并通过火车游览印度的其他地区，体验印度的音乐、美食、文化及舞蹈。我也希望可以到非洲的特定地区、埃塞俄比亚，塞内加尔及马里旅游。之后，还有墨西哥、斯里兰卡和哥伦比亚。」

询及摩根未来有何计划，她说，计划用5年的时间来探索世界各地新奇的文化及艺术，之后再5年，希望还做继续再做同样的事。诚然，只要一个人是做自己有兴趣的事情，那么她就能全情投入去做，并能从中找到乐趣。这也证明，只要肯尽一切努力去追求，梦想是可以成真的。