MAYBELLINE SAN JUAN
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER, SYDNEY FESTIVAL
Since joining Sydney Festival as Associate Producer in July 2024, I've had the joy of helping bringing the Art of Summer every January.
I oversee the administration and delivery of the festival's diverse programs, from presented works, co-productions, our professional development program Festival Commons, to the industry and ideas events under Summer School. I also lead the festival's Access Program, working alongside our Access and Inclusion Advisory Panel.
The FAQ is what my favourite show has been. My answer precedes my work tenure, but is the reason I was so passionate about joining the team. In 2025 I watched Harold López-Nussa and mid-show his Harmonica player, Grégoire Maret, played what felt like a 10 minute solo- yes on the harmonica. All of a sudden my eyes just welled up with tears, and boom- I was crying because I was soo deeply moved by a harmonica solo.
MY WORK AT SYDNEY FESTIVAL
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Now in its second year, Festival Commons is an initiative that supports the next wave of IBPoC (Indigenous, Black and People of Colour) festival-makers, curators and cultural conveners in Greater Sydney and the Asia Pacific.
Forming the next intake of Festival Commons: they will be a collective of cultural disruptors reshaping what festivals can be.
ROLE
Curation & Selection Management: Facilitate and moderate the complete selection process, rigorously assessing and shortlisting over 60+ competitive applications.
Program Co-Design & Scheduling: Co-design each learning session and build a comprehensive 10-day intensive schedule tailored to the needs and interests of the cohort.
Speaker & Artist Management: Curated, invited, and managed external guest speakers and industry experts, handling end-to-end contracting, honorariums, and stakeholder relations.
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ABOUT
Led by Artistic Associate Nithya Nagarajan, Summer School invites audiences to spend more time with the ideas and creative practices behind the Festival. Artist-led rituals, workshops, salons, talks and cooking demonstrations create opportunities to listen, experiment and take part.
ROLE
Programming Support: Support the curation full public program in response to artistic works, translating themes into engaging industry roundtables, post-show talks, and networking initiatives.
Event Delivery: Manage on-site event execution, speaker logistics, audience engagement, and operations to ensure seamless delivery across all public programs.
