ONE of the country’s top arts administrators, Leigh Small, is the new executive director of Four Winds in Bermagui.

The appointment follows the very recent news that Four Winds’ co-executive directors, Gabrielle Waters and Greg Lissaman, and artistic director Matthew Hoy have all stepped down at their own request.

Four Winds chairman Michael Darling said: “Leigh is one of the most experienced arts administrators in the country, having run Sydney Film Festival and Sydney Dance Company, and previously worked in executive roles at the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Theatre Company and Belvoir St Theatre.”

He said she was a Dignam’s Creek resident with a great love of the NSW south coast, and came  “brimming with ideas on how to take Four Winds into a new phase.”

“William [actor William Zappa]and I bought a property in Dignam’s Creek 12 years ago, and since covid we spent more and more time here. We are proud to be part of one of the many and varied communities in the area,” Small says.

“I look forward to exploring possibilities for embedding Four Winds even more deeply in its local community, enriching its audiences and working with partners new and existing to take it strongly into its next phase.”

Apart from her roles with flagship companies, as a freelance producer she has worked with Queensland Performing Arts Centre and the English National Ballet, and produced Zappa’s “The Iliad Out Loud” for the Sydney and Adelaide festivals, and 2021 Four Winds Festival.

Recently she has worked with Wendy Beckett on developing theatrical productions for the Australian market, and strategic planning for Redline Productions at the Old Fitz in Sydney.

Four Winds began as a biennial fine music festival in 1991. It has grown to become a multi-faceted organisation, including its music festival held annually near Bermagui at Easter.

Small will take up her new role effective from June 13.