JOSIPA DRAISMA

Josipa Draisma is an award winning and critically acclaimed multidisciplinary artist, performer, writer, theatre maker, creative producer and cultural leader. Her artistic practice converges contemporary theatre, music, cabaret, visual art, film and improvisational comedy.

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Josipa holds an MFA in Cultural Leadership (NIDA) and is the 2023 recipient of the LYNNE WILLIAMS AM AWARD for Outstanding Achievement in Cultural Leadership. Josipa also holds an MFA and BCA in Performance and Music with Distinction (University of Wollongong). Josipa has trained extensively in theatre and music performance pedagogies across Australia, UK and New York with leading practitioners in Improvisation, Bouffon, Clown, Uta Hagen method and the Ivana Chubbuck Technique. Josipa is an IETM Campus, Playwriting Australia Directors Studio, Improv Theatre Sydney, 16th Street Actors Studio, Movement Theatre Studio NYC, HB Studio NYC and an AFTRS screenwriting alumni.

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As lead artist Josipa has developed and presented live performance works that have been programmed across arts festivals and venues in Australia including: The Melbourne Comedy Festival, The Sydney Comedy Festival, The Adelaide Fringe Festival, Riverside Theatre, The Sydney Fringe Festival, Perth Fringeworld, The Melbourne Cabaret Festival,The Art House Wyong, Orange Civic Centre, Chatswood Concourse and Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. Josipa’s work LJUBICICA – WILD VIOLET was awarded THE SYDNEY FRINGE BEST MUSIC SHOW AWARD. Josipa was picked by the Sydney Comedy Festival as a BEST EMERGING COMEDIAN under their FRESH Artist program.

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Josipa is the Creative Director of IN WILD COMPANY that specialises in new music and theatre storytelling championing female driven narratives and untold histories. In 2023 under Josipa’s leadership In Wild Company co-presented the critically acclaimed production of THE HEN HOUSE, a musical and story-rich homage to the inspirational and (sometimes) tragic lives of migrant female factory workers. Described by critics as “original and eclectic” (Artshub) and “bold, hyper-intelligent, moving and fun” (Sydney Morning Herald) Josipa co-created this work alongside an award-winning team including PYT Fairfield (Helpmann Award Winner), Sime Knezevic (Philip Parsons Playwright nom.), Mara Knezevic (Helpmann Award nom.) with direction by Anthea Williams (Sydney Theatre Award Winner), design by Isabel Hudson (Sydney Theatre Award Winner), choreography by Emma Saunders (Green Room Award Winner) and musical direction by Zeljko Papic (Eurovision: Australia Decides Top 20).

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In 2024 Josipa was an artist in residence at Campbelltown Arts Centre developing a brand-new contemporary musical, 'Diva' that explores ageing, women, ethnicity, femininity in ancient mythology and the unforgiving, sexualised world of pop music. In 2024 Josipa was also an artist in residence at Griffin Theatre as a Griffin Studio Artist writing her brand new play 'In Echoes' under the mentorship of highly acclaimed and award winning Australian playwright Mary Rachel Brown.  Griffin Studio is an esteemed mentorship program that provides career pathways for promising directors, writers and dramaturgs with the time and resources to create work that can shape the nation. 

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In addition to her artistic practice, Josipa has extensive experience working in project management and partnership development across private, commercial and government arts, screen, and cultural sectors. Josipa has supported the delivery of hundreds of hours of screen programming including children's, documentary, arts/entertainment and reality TV for the ABC, Disney Channel, ITV Studios and Essential Media. Josipa has also supported multi-million-dollar arts and cultural government initiatives, cultural infrastructure projects, events and professional development programs for artists, arts organisations and major cultural institutions across NSW.

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Josipa is a passionate advocate for cultural diversity and inclusion in programming and leadership within the arts, screen and cultural sectors. Her academic research in what systemic and structural barriers culturally diverse women face in attaining senior leadership roles in the Australian arts and cultural sector was recognised by the NIDA Foundation Trust through the 2023 Lynne Williams AM Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cultural Leadership. Josipa is currently developing an arts leadership summit that addresses the lack of representation of culturally diverse women in leadership roles within arts and cultural organisations. The summit aims to support urgent systemic and social change so that culturally diverse women can attain leadership roles within Australia’s arts and cultural sector.