Mariam Arcilla was born in Singapore, and is a Gold Coast based cultural developer, curator and writer. She completed a Bachelor of Creative Arts and BA Honours degree at Griffith University, and has a background in project management and public relations. Mariam currently works as a Cultural Development Project Officer at Gold Coast City Council and is co-founder/co-director of rabbit+cocoon, a multi-arts precinct launching in 2011. In between she writes and researches for organizations, and curates or exhibits in galleries and artist-run spaces.
Previously, Mariam co-established 19 KAREN Contemporary Artspace, and for two years as its director, facilitated its professional development programs, which included monthly exhibitions, artist talks and workshops. She was co-founder/project director of ‘tinygold‘ artist-run initiative, which utilised alternative spaces to showcase the works of emerging local artists. She is a recipient of several Arts Qld and RADF grants. Since 2006 Mariam has been involved in numerous volunteer-based community arts projects in Gold Coast and Brisbane.
These projects and collaborations are featured in White Pages, ABC TV, Metro Arts, Art Monthly, Judith Wright Centre for Contemporary Arts, Gold Coast Bulletin, Courier Mail, Monster Children, Triple J Radio, fourthousand, Electrofringe and Naked City-Guide.
In a very blue moon, she makes stop-motion clips and soft sculptures. And Twits.