Vivid Sydney’s Gill Minervini on finding the write path

In the late 1990s, Gill Minervini was undertaking a commute familiar to many Illawarra locals.

Living in Stanwell Tops and travelling by train to Sydney, Gill was already establishing herself in the events industry when she decided to pursue a Master of Creative Arts at UOW.

“I'd always wanted to write,” she recalls. “I started training as an actor and then realised I was a much better director than I was an actor.” Her decision to study at UOW was driven by a desire to return to her creative roots, drawn by the University's reputation in Creative Arts.

Reversing the direction of her daily commute, Gill quickly found a haven of creativity at UOW under the mentorship of renowned playwright and pioneer of experimental theatre, Clem Gorman.

“Studying in Wollongong felt like a sanctuary. You know, it gave me space to breathe and think,” she reflects.

The experience provided crucial validation for her natural writing abilities. “I think it gave me a lot of confidence... It really cemented what I'd taken for granted as a skill.”

“Places like the University of Wollongong really helped strengthen my self-belief in my abilities and my creativity. And I think education will really do that, no matter how old you are...”

As one of Australia's leading creative directors, Gill has more than 30 years of experience in festival and event direction. She has helmed numerous landmark events, including Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and, most recently, Vivid Sydney.

In 2022, Michaela Gleave's optimistic, Endless Love, proudly displayed a love that embraces Sydney and its people. Image: Unsplash/Chris Andrawes.

Her commitment to inclusive and accessible art is deeply personal. “You don't have to step inside a gallery or a theatre to have amazing creative experiences that can change people's lives. And diversity is always part of that,” she says. “I'm part-Italian, I'm a lesbian, and yeah, I have a pretty good dose of diversity within me!”

“Back in the ’80s, when I came out, it was so important to see ourselves in storytelling or in any creative environment. It still blows my mind how much that has changed today, in a relatively short period of time. And so firsthand, I know the power of art and creativity to give people a sense of place.”

Inclusion and diversity have been central to Gill's creative DNA since her appointment to Vivid Sydney in 2021. “I'm proud to say that Vivid Sydney has always, but especially over the last four years, has demonstrated a real commitment to [artistic inclusivity]—from First Nations work to queer work and multicultural work, to improving accessibility for people living with disabilities,” she says.

“It makes for a much richer, holistic experience, and I've been really heartened by the incredibly positive response it has received.”

Vivid Sydney's second collaboration with First Nations artists for Lighting of the Sails in 2022 was the Martumili collective painting Yarrkalpa - Hunting Ground, Parnngurr Area 2013 by creative technologists, Curiious. Image: Unsplash/Halley Tian.

With a distinguished portfolio of award-winning major events, Gill has solidified her reputation as a visionary leader in the industry. A self-described dreamer, she often reflects on her formative years at UOW.

Those halcyon days were marked by an effervescent creative energy, laying the foundation for her future endeavours. “A memory that stands out is our demountable classroom, absolutely surrounded by gum trees. It created a kind of romanticism about studying creative writing.”

The power of dreaming is the resolute advice Gill imparts to anyone on a similar career trajectory. “What I love about dreaming is that it's free, it's ageless, it's borderless, it's genderless. Never let go of the dream."