STRATEGIC ARTS & CULTURAL CONSULTANT

Theatre Producer |  General Manager | Lawyer

                                                                         

Hi! My name is Madeleine Gandhi

I am an Australian theatre producer, arts manager, admitted lawyer and freelance consultant. After training at Sydney Law School, I decided to channel my corporate skills into the cultural sector. I am currently the General Manager of a national theatre company and have been recognised as one of Out For Australia’s 30 Under 30.

I have co-founded an LGBTQIA+ arts organisation (Fruit Box Theatre), delivered ambitious productions on commercial (In The Heights) and independent (Snakeface) budgets, served on arts boards (The Suburban Review, Stage A Change) and worked across commercial law (Bird & Bird, Banki Haddock Fiora) and federal government (Attorney-General’s Department, ACCC). Having studied the ways that storytelling shapes history, identity and decision-making, I care deeply about laying the groundwork for sustainable and accessible careers. When artists thrive, society benefits.

Let’s work together

Grant Writing
Ask me me to write or edit grant applications for you or your organisation. To date, I’ve successfully secured more than $250,000 for individual artists. I’d love you to be next.

Producing, Events & Project Delivery
Ask me to draft, build or edit contracts, budgets and tour plans for organisations, theatre, comedy, musicals, script developments or other live events. As a qualified (non-practising) lawyer, I specialise in bringing projects into line with the Live Performance Award 2020 and/or Performers’ Collective Agreement 2024.

Governance & HR
Ask me to draft, edit or advise on policies and processes that balance all the hoops and ribbons: workplace health & safety standards, robust governance protocols, NFP risk management, industry benchmarks, long-term strategic planning and company values.

Sector Development
I love to chat about our industry and how we can push each other to keep improving. I have presented on panels about creative workforce development and LGBTQIA+ leadership, hosted storytelling nights, delivered project management workshops, and mentored emerging producers. Ask me to write, speak, emcee or mentor.

Drop me a line

If you are looking for a sounding board, navigating change, or just want to take some arts administration off your plate, I’d love to hear from you.

Tell me about:
  • you and/or your organisation  
  • your creative practice
  • your current goal
  • how I can help

madeleine.gandhi@gmail.com
https://au.linkedin.com/in/madeleinegandhi
https://www.fruitboxtheatre.com.au/testimonials


A BIT ABOUT ME




My qualifications

  • Master of Arts & Cultural Management, Paramount Scholar, University of Melbourne (ongoing)
  • Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, Admitted to Supreme Court of NSW
  • Bachelor of Laws, University of Sydney
  • Bachelor of Arts, University of Sydney

My experience


General Manager, ILBIJERRI Theatre Company
Senior Project Officer, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
  • Tour Producer, In The Heights (Sydney Opera House, Comedy Theatre, HOTA Home of the Arts)
General Manager & Secretary, Darlinghurst Theatre Company
Board Director, The Suburban Review
Legal Officer, Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department
Co-Founder, Fruit Box Theare
Event Producer, Griffin Theatre Company
Interim General Manager & Secretary, Stage A Change


My writing


  • ‘Perspectives on the concept, craft and currency of community engagement’ (2024) ArtsHub
  • ‘A glorious anomaly: Would the Opera House be built today?’ (2023) ArtsHub
  • ‘AI, Invention and Authorship: Expanding Intellectual Property Rights to Non-Human Outputs’ (2021) 23(7) Intellectual Property Law Bulletin 119, LexisNexis.
  • ‘Evaluating Proposed Reforms of Ausralia’s IP System to Protect Indigenous Knowledge’ (2020) 33(2) Intellectual Property Law Bulletin 25, LexisNexis.


My questions for arts organisations
back to basics
  1. How do your processes reflect the realities of our sector?
  2. How do your policies care for artists and arts workers?
  3. How are you balancing risk management with artistic integrity and sector development?
  4. What does “resilience” (financial, psychological, creative) mean to your team? What does it look like in practice?
  5. How are your bringing audiences and stakeholders on your organisational journey?


What I’m reading
to expand the way we talk about “arts management”