Artist Manifesto

1.    Yes To: Care, Compassion and Commitment within the Creative Process

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I will foster these important qualities for my own creative process and when leading or facilitating the rehearsal room. I believe in the importance of having a deep sense of curiosity for the work and the world around you. This is how I will create change. 

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2.    Yes To: Accessibility From the Beginning and Regular Check-ins Throughout 

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As a neurodivergent artist, accessibility sits at the heart of my practice. I communicate my access needs and boundaries clearly from the outset, and maintain regular check-ins, acknowledging that these can change over time. I recognise that every disability and every person has different needs, so I value flexibility and a high level of trust within the team. Access is also built into the budget from the beginning, ensuring resources like an Auslan interpreter can be booked when required—no excuses.

 

3.    Yes To: Diverse Voices, Different Ways of Functioning and Deep Listening

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Culturally-grounded storytelling on Noongar Boodja is integral to my artist practice. I take care to work in ways that honour place, community, language and cultural knowledge. This means recognising whose land I am creating on. My responsibility as an artist is not only to tell stories, but to tell them with integrity, humility and cultural awareness. I strive to make space for people to work in the ways that best support them, whether that’s through communication styles, rest, sensory needs, or creative processes. 

 

4.    Yes To: Physical Theatre, Intercultural Theatre and Multiple Languages 

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After travelling to Singapore in early 2025 and studying at The Intercultural Theatre Institute with the support of the New Colombo Plan, I developed an intense passion for intercultural theatre. I became particularly drawn to exploring this form through a feminist lens, recognising how rare it is within a field historically dominated by male voices. My training in physical theatre, especially the Suzuki Method of Acting Training, became a defining part of my creative practice as I relished the challenge, high intensity and kinaesthetic awareness it demands within an ensemble. Being surrounded by many diverse voices, cultures and languages was also integral to this experience, deepening my respect for cultural nuance and collaborative communication. Moving forward, I aspire to create an intercultural work in collaboration with the vibrant community I connected with in Singapore.

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5.    Yes To: Curiosity, Experimenting and Joy 

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These are fundamental to me. In everything I do, I strive to lead with joy and curiosity. I like to play around, tinker and experiment, not just for the sake of it, but because I’m genuinely interested in what happens when things change. This sense of play helps me stay open to the unexpected and responsive to what emerges in the room. Experimentation allows me to find new theatrical languages and creative strategies, while curiosity keeps me attentive to the detail and the humanity of a process. Joy is the energy that fuels collaboration and sustains me through the challenges of creative work. Together, they create an environment where risk feels exciting, rather than intimidating, where failure becomes a form of learning, and where genuine connection with others can thrive.

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6.    Yes To: Swimming in the Ocean 

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I’m a Pisces, so I’ve always felt a special connection to the ocean. When I’m in the water, everything slows down. My mind quietens, my body relaxes and I feel grounded again. Swimming is one of the best things I can do for my mental health and I want to make a commitment to doing it more, reconnecting with something that makes me feel alive. By returning to the water, I’m not only reconnecting with something that makes me feel alive, but also nurturing my wellbeing in a way that will ripple into my arts practice.​​​

7.        Yes To: The Relentless Pursuit of Community
 
Recently, the wonderful Dr Renée Newman reminded me of the importance of finding your community or tribe. Although I haven’t quite found that circle at WAAPA, the reminder has stayed with me. I know those connections are out there, and I’m hopeful I’ll discover them in my first year post-university, whether through creative collaborations, mentorships or simply by showing up in the right rooms. I want to keep saying yes to building relationships, to curiosity, to shared values and to the joy of finding my people.

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8.        Yes To: Rest and Deleting Instagram
 
Social media is both necessary to promote your artistic work, but can also be detrimental to your mental health through the constant comparison to others. I intend to limit my use of social media, whether that means deleting Instagram completely or only checking it once a day. That way I can focus on more important things like writing, developing my skills and doing things that fill my cup. Additionally, rest is a practice that I will engage with more and a skill to grow. 

 

​9.        Yes To: Creating For My Younger Self
 
Like many others, I started drama classes as a kid to overcome shyness and build confidence. When I feel overwhelmed or tangled up in expectations, I remind myself of little Ella who was fearless, curious, loved playing lively violin music, inventing stories and dances with friends simply for the joy of it. She wasn’t worried about being perfect, polished or impressive, she just wanted to make things. Saying yes to creating for my younger self means honouring that spirit of play, trusting my instincts and remembering that art can be joyful, messy and deeply human. 

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10.  Yes To: Making Art Without An Outcome in Mind

In 2022 I participated in the Kolyang Disability Lab with Performing Lines WA, an inventive arts hub that emerged out of Covid-19. The lab brought the local arts community together to talk, share skills and collaborate, without the pressure of producing a performative outcome at the end. That experience reminded me how liberating it is to create without deadlines, deliverables or external expectations. When high stakes, funding and livelihoods are involved, creativity can become very stressful and overwhelming. As a wise person, Dr Jeremy Neideck, once said to me: “If you’re not having fun, then why are you doing it?”
 
Ending my manifesto with this intention feels deeply fitting. It brings me back to my inner child. The one who danced in the lounge room for family, who drew pictures and wrote tiny stories just because it felt good. Creativity exists within all of us, long before we think of audiences, assessment or value. I give myself permission to make bad art, to play, to experiment and to create simply for the stress-free joy of creating. 

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