Creative Conversations: Mental Wellbeing & The Arts in Queensland

Join us for a special evening hosted by Hey Mate in partnership with the Museum of Brisbane, where we bring together voices from Queensland’s vibrant music, film, visual, and performing arts communities to explore mental wellbeing in the arts.

This thought-provoking event will feature a 60-minute moderated panel discussion with industry leaders including Sarah Harvey (Director of Engagement at Museum of Brisbane), Sarah Farnsworth (Director of Operations at QMusic), Criena Gehrke (Chief Executive of Queensland Theatre), Bobbi-Lea Dionysius (Producer, Educator, Researcher at Disruptor Studios), and more. Together, they’ll unpack pressing issues like burnout, financial stress, and the emotional toll of creative work—while also sharing tools for building resilience, both personally and across the sector.

Following the panel, take part in an audience Q&A and connect with peers and panelists over informal networking and light refreshments.

Supported by the Museum of Brisbane and proudly promoted across creative industry networks, this event is an opportunity to reflect, share, and strengthen community care in the arts.

Meet the Panel

Sarah Harvey - Museum of Brisbane
Sarah Harvey has over a decade of experience in the creative sector specialising in events, audiences and experiences. With roles in both the performing and visual arts sectors, including Front of House Manager at NIDA, managing all front of house operations and event delivery across the 7 theatres, and Director, Engagement at Museum of Brisbane leading the visitor experience, public programs, marketing and retail teams. Sarah is passionate about creating vibrant and safe spaces to connect with art, and is an accredited Mental Health First Aider.

Sarah Farnsworth - QMusic 
Sarah Farnsworth is a leader in event operations and business management in the performing arts and festival industries, committed to building collaborative and empowered teams, streamlining processes, and fostering sustainable growth and innovation. Over the past decade, she has worked across producing, event management, logistics, business administration, ticketing, and people and culture, collaborating with diverse teams to deliver successful projects. Sarah is passionate about creating pathways for emerging arts professionals and championing workforce safety, wellbeing, mental health, and inclusivity.
At QMusic and BIGSOUND, she works closely with the board and the QMusic Safety & Diversity Advisory Group to deliver and grow the event safety strategy, Concert Care. Her passion and experience is backed by strong business acumen, and she holds a Bachelor of Business Management, alongside a Bachelor of Arts. She enjoys combining digital systems and good data governance with empathetic leadership and change management to support collaboration, improve efficiency, and build team capacity.
She has worked with artists and arts organisations across a range of creative practices, but is particularly inspired by live performance, contemporary music, and the sense of discovery, connection, and community that arts festivals create.

Criena Gehrke - Queensland Theatre
Criena is an exceptional arts leader. She is the Chair of PAC Australia and the Chief Executive of Queensland Theatre. Criena previously worked with Circa, Australia’s Contemporary Circus Company as Group Executive – Strategy and Impact, and spent five years as the inaugural CEO of HOTA Gold Coast where she led the development of the cultural precinct including 140 million dollars of infrastructure projects and welcoming 700,000 visitors each year. Criena has also held the role of Executive Co-ordinator, Arts and Culture, City of Gold Coast, and worked in the youth arts and disability sectors in Victoria. She was instrumental in developing the Gold Coast’s culture strategy and helped oversee the Arts and Cultural Program of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Bobbi-Lea Dionysius