Culture Club: Get To Know Danielle Lim

Local artist, producer and arts worker Danielle Lim wants culturally diverse artists to spend less time navigating the industry and more time being artists. Her new creative business, X Elle Creative, aims to support POC and culturally diverse artists in building sustainable careers across the Australian performing arts sector. Following BANG ON THE NERVE, we caught up with Danielle to talk producing, representation and change across the arts

You work across performance, producing and arts work. What draws you to making work and helping other artists bring their work to life?

A key part of the arts industry is the community, and I love how connected we all are. In 2021, when I participated in the Artist Lab, a professional development initiative for SA-based Asian creatives, this marked the first time I was in a room entirely with people who looked like me. Many of us actually cried the first day from being overwhelmed by this experience. Since then, I knew I wanted to make work that championed my community and supported other artists in telling their stories, hopefully inspiring more Asian-Australians to pursue arts careers.

You've just wrapped up BANG ON THE NERVE at Goodwood Theatre. What are you taking away from it now that the season has finished?

The season we had as part of COMEBACK Festival was such a lovely way to send off this story. We were super grateful for the people who spent their evening with us, including interstate friends who managed to catch the show while they were in town, and those who saw it for a second time. This season has given Sam and I the drive to make something greater, to continue creating works that champion historically underrepresented voices and make something that is 100% ours.

You're developing a creative producing business through Helpmann Academy's Creative Innovator program. What made you want to start it?

My new creative business is called X Elle Creative and focuses on developing strong working relationships with independent artists who are culturally diverse/POC, supporting them in building portfolios across the Australian performing arts sector. The inspiration behind this business is my own experience going through drama school as the only POC and feeling alone in the cultural struggles I was experiencing within the industry. I’ve also witnessed my peers juggle multiple roles as creatives, which takes away from the actual creative work. I want to play my part in addressing these issues.

What barriers do you think culturally diverse artists still face in the arts sector?

Feeling deep imposter syndrome in Australian arts spaces and not having access to support that is culturally informed. With the recent loss of OzAsia Festival, many Asian artists, arts workers and cultural community groups have taken a big hit. The majority of Australian arts organisations also don't have anyone who is culturally diverse in their leadership team. Many culturally diverse artists come from grassroots, so something needs to change so that they can sustain long-term engagements within the sector.

You've said that your aim is to help artists focus on "just being artists". What do you think makes a good producer?

A good producer is one who listens to the artists they work with. Relationship building should be at the forefront of producing, so that you are able to comprehensively understand what goals an artist has and where they want their careers to go. Good producers should be able to tailor their support specifically for each artist.

Looking ahead, what would you love to see change across the Australian arts sector?

I'd love to see more diversity in the stories that are told across our arts landscape, particularly in SA, where programming is still conservative. I'd love to see more outreach work conducted by arts orgs with culturally diverse communities. It's crucial for them to try to understand what these communities need, and how they can be further supported to pursue arts careers, because the arts should be for everyone.

Stay up to date with Dani @lldanill720.