Media releases

Federation University Australia has announced that Bryce Ives, a renowned artistic leader with extensive experience in strategic planning and community development, will be the new Director of the Arts Academy Ballarat and Gippsland Centre of Arts and Design (GCAD).  

Mr Ives’ appointment follows an international and national search and his career highlights include fulfilling roles as Executive Producer at the ABC and General Manager of SYN – Australia’s largest community youth creative project.

His international experience includes work with the British Broadcasting Corporation. He has also facilitated community engagement projects across Australia, and performed teaching and director roles at the Victorian College of the Arts.

As Artistic Director of the Present Tense ensemble, Mr Ives has led ambitious and visionary performance works, collaborating with leading arts organisations including Rawcus, Arena Theatre, Express Media, big hART, and Theatre Works.

As Facilitator of the annual Heywire Regional Youth Summit, Mr Ives has been central to the evolution of the ABC’s radio platform of storytelling to increase youth engagement.

Federation University Australia’s Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andy Smith, said Mr Ives was ideally suited to lead the next phase of the Ballarat Arts Academy and GCAD and will oversee the next phase of the strategic development of the two centres, setting a bold agenda for programs, research and community engagement. 

“At Federation University Australia, we take pride in our connections to the local communities we serve and Ives is well known to many in Ballarat through his various engagements in the local art scene. His knowledge of regional Australia will add depth and renewed energy to the Arts Academy and GCAD,” Professor Smith said.

“Bryce will ensure FedUni enables a more resilient and diverse contemporary arts community in Ballarat, in Gippsland, across regional Victoria and beyond.”

Mr Ives said he was honoured and looking forward to starting his new role as Artistic Director at Federation University Australia.

“Federation University Australia celebrates courage and excellence in arts training. The Arts Academy and GCAD are poised to challenge preconceived notions of regional arts practice, and to further shatter systemic barriers in equity and diversity.

“I intend to be a champion of the creative capacity of regional Australia and to passionately amplify our students’ creativity,” Mr Ives said.

Federation University Australia is renowned for its studio-based undergraduate and graduate programs in visual arts, graphic and communication design, acting and music theatre.

The Arts Academy in Ballarat is central to the Ballarat creative precinct, housing two theatres and the Post Office Gallery.

The Gippsland Centre for Arts and Design, located at the Gippsland Campus, houses the Switchback Gallery. A vibrant community engagement program includes the biennial national Guirguis Prize for new media art.