LESA-BELLE FURHAGEN
DIRECTOR
Master of Arts (Art History & Theory), University of Sydney, With Merit
Honors, Bachelor of Divinity, University of London
Lesa-Belle Furhagen has extensive experience in media, entertainment, events management and technology spanning more than 30 years, in both executive and non-executive roles. She co-founded Front Publishers, which secured the license to publish Rolling Stone in Australia. Lesa-Belle went on to hold the position of Managing Director of Terraplane Press and Terraplanet Limited which was responsible for a range of publications that included HQ and Monument. She was instrumental in the company’s IPO including preparation of the prospectus. In 1998, the Magazine Publishers of Australia awarded HQ the title of Magazine of the Year. Lesa-Belle is in the final stages of an art history PhD at the University of Sydney.
Lesa-Belle is the producer of an annual City of Sydney event called Sedition, a festival of art and ideas in the spring. Sedition is a very bold initiative to fill the city with work that is inspiring and beautiful but also has something to say about the times. It places artists and property developers at the same table to problem solve the challenges facing central business districts globally and how to reinvigorate these important spaces.
Lesa-Belle is currently a non-executive director of the Power Foundation of Art & Visual Culture and the Wirian Trust.
She previously held senior positions in the Australian theatre and film industries that include the Australian National Playwrights Conference, Theatre Workshop at Sydney University, The Performance Space (now Carriage Works), Belvoir St Theatre and Film Australia.
Some affirmation in the middle of a pandemic. Lesa-Belle, we have had so many comments and commotion about the amazing photo. Thank you for the opportunity to showcase it.
Saskia Havekes, Owner, Grandiflora
Lesa-Belle, this looks splendid. And I love the affective whiplash of the last two sentences: “It’s a mean old world now and the hands of joyless repression have grasped our collective necks. Our only hope is art.”
Professor Annamarie Jagose, Executive Dean and Pro Vice Chancellor (University Schools), Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
Lesa-Belle, congratulations on the second edition of the Sedition Festival! You have brought together a beautiful group of artists. The install looks great.
Imants Tillers
Lesa-Belle, high praise indeed - you're a gem. So glad to be a little bit of a supporter of Sedition this year and, just so you know, if you have the energy in 2021 then obviously, we can be more supportive as long as I'm around...and I'm not planning to go anywhere!
Sedition in its 'reduced' form is obviously registering and both Susan and the Dean see just how valuable you, and it, are to the Power. Congrats, and take care
Mark Ledbury, Power Professor of Art History and Visual Culture, Director of the Power Institute
Lesa Belle, we would like to express our appreciation for participating in this year’s SEDITION 2020 festival. Due to Covid 19, the event industry was devasted since March 2020 with no events, no conferences, no world congresses and no tradeshow due to the shutdown of mass gatherings by the government caused by the pandemic. The loss to our business has been immense.
You came to us and briefed us on your concept and we thought it was an excellent and meaningful idea. We decided to convert and use the equipment that we would usually use to build exhibitions and build the infrastructure to display the art in each location around the city. In times of uncertainty, it was great to be able to participate in this project and bring some income to our business. I am therefore very grateful for that. On top of that, we had no hesitation in participating as a sponsor and to offer a 30% discount ($15k) to help with this meaningful project.
The result was very rewarding to see beautiful activations around the city which helped bring it to life and we are proud to have participated in this festival.