Pronouns: She/Her
Dr. Virginia Keft is a proud Murriwarri Woman; First Nations Producer, a practicing artist, Curator, and award- winning researcher with over 25 years’ experience working in the Arts Sector. Virginia has produced. Virginia has produced and curated artistic and cultural programs that celebrate and recognise the continuity of Culture and the important contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have made, and continue to make, to the Arts, education, community, and care of Country.
Virginia has published and presented papers on Arts and Cultural studies, Dance performance, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Arts, Culture and Health. She holds a Doctorate (PhD – Medalist) from the University of Wollongong, along with a Bachelor of Creative Arts (BCA – Distinction), and a Bachelor of Arts (BA – Class 1 Honours). More recently, Virginia has undertaken further study through in the areas of Health, Well-being, Dementia, and other age-related brain disease. In recognition of her work in Indigenous Culture and Health, Virginia was appointed an Associate Member of Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA). Virginia currently holds the position of ‘Arts & Dementia Coordinator for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs’ at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Australia. In September 2021, Virginia joined Blacktown Arts in the role of ‘Producer, First Nations’. Virginia brings her passion for making contemporary arts and culture accessible to broad audiences together with her commitment to help drive change through innovative and culturally safe arts and culture programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Virginia is the Founding Director, Arts Manager and Producer of the award-winning dance company, Cinnamon Twist Belly Dance Australia. She is also the creator and producer of ‘Wollongong Belly Dance Festival’ (2011-2017); a biennial international festival which celebrates contemporary belly dance and performance. Virginia is currently a member of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group.