Biography

Brad Spolding is a curator, programmer and producer working across art forms. Highlights from the last decade include his role as Artistic Director & CEO of The Substation, a multi-art space presenting contemporary, experimental art. Over his 7-year tenure, Brad transformed The Substation into a beacon of contemporary and experimental arts with a reputation for bold commissioning, building a critically acclaimed national and international program for a broad audience. During this time, Brad was engaged by Asia TOPA as the Curator of the performance program Subsonic, delivering programming across Arts Centre Melbourne. Subsonic commissioned four new Australian works and hosted sold-out performances across the Arts Centre’s venues.

From 2022-24, Brad was the inaugural Arts Program Director at the Brisbane Powerhouse. In this role, he led the curation of the arts program, focused on building a more diverse audience across a broader demographic. This included launching several new multi-artform events that engaged local, national and international artists, including the OHM Festival and Night Feast Arts Program, alongside a year-round artist development and commissioning program.

Before these roles, Brad was Executive Producer of ILBIJERRI Theatre Company, overseeing a momentous period of growth for the company. He led large-scale projects with national and international touring and investment, building lasting personal relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and communities. He has continued to work closely with emerging and established First Nations creatives and leaders, including at Brisbane Powerhouse, where he led the formation of the organisation's inaugural First Nations Advisory Committee.

Brad holds a Bachelor’s in Visual Arts, a Graduate Diploma in Arts Management and a Master's in Arts and Community Practice. He is a board member of the Macfarlane Fund, an alumni of the Cranlana and Creative Australia Leadership programs, and a founding member of Theatre Network Australia.