Wellbeing Through Art

Join us in person or online for Wellbeing Through Art, presented by Accessible Arts and the Art Gallery of New South Wales in celebration of NSW Women's Week 2025.

Keynote speaker Em Rusciano will be joined by contemporary artist Hiromi Tango, comedian Bec Charlwood, clinical psychologist Jane Miskovic-Wheatley and Art Gallery of NSW senior curator of contemporary Australian art and Brett Whiteley Studio, Beatrice Gralton as we discuss the myriad benefits of art in an engaging exploration of health, wellbeing and diverse creative expression.

Where and When

Wednesday 5 March 2025
6pm - 8pm
Networking 8pm - 9pm (in person only)

Join in person

Art Gallery of NSW, Naala Buda, Meers Hall – Lower Level 2.

Join online

A registration link will be sent in due course.

Access

This wheelchair accessible event will be Auslan interpreted and captioned. The in-person event at Art Gallery of NSW will be open captioned. The online event will be closed captioned.

For more information about Access Support at the Art Gallery of NSW, please click here.

Trigger warning: This event contains reference to mental health conditions which may be triggering for some people.

If you wish to discuss your access requirements for this event, please email info@aarts.net.au or phone (02) 9251 6499.

About the Speakers

Em Rusciano, Comedian, Singer and Writer

Em Rusciano is celebrated for her vibrant energy, sharp wit, and unfiltered approach to storytelling. Em is a Writer, singer, stand-up comedian and podcaster who first rose to prominence in 2004 as a finalist on the second season of Australian Idol, showcasing her powerful voice and stage presence. This experience catapulted her into the spotlight, leading to successful stints in radio, where she co-hosted high-profile breakfast shows on Perth's 92.9FM and Sydney's 2DayFM.

A prolific creator, Rusciano has become a prominent voice in podcasting with Emsolation, a wildly popular show co-hosted with her best friend, Michael Lucas. The podcast combines sharp social commentary, pop culture deep dives, and personal anecdotes, offering listeners a mix of humor, insight, and heartfelt connection. Additionally, Rusciano hosts Anomalous, a podcast exploring the experiences of neurodivergent individuals, drawing on her own diagnosis and advocacy for inclusivity.

Rusciano's live shows have also earned critical acclaim, with her most recent production, Outgrown, captivating audiences with its raw and hilarious reflections on life's transitions, motherhood, and self-discovery. Known for blending comedy, music, and storytelling, her performances are a testament to her unique creative vision and ability to connect deeply with her audience.

She is also a published author, with her memoir Try Hard: Tales from the Life of a Needy Overachiever (2016), offering a candid and humorous look at her life and career. As a mother of three, Rusciano often weaves her parenting experiences into her work, resonating with audiences who appreciate her honesty and relatability.

A passionate advocate for mental health, neurodiversity, and inclusivity, Rusciano uses her platform to challenge societal norms and foster meaningful conversations. Her authenticity and versatility continue to make her a beloved figure in Australian entertainment.

Hiromi Tango, Contemporary Artist

Hiromi Tango is a Japanese Australian Artist who migrated to Australia in 1998 from Shikoku Island, Japan. She has been a resident of the Bundjalung Country, Tweed Heads, NSW since 2014. For two decades, Hiromi Tango has focused on the intersection between art and science, with a particular focus on health and mental wellbeing. Drawing on her own experiences of neurodivergence and anxiety, her installations and performances traverse the embodied self, the emotional terrain of our relationships with others, and the healing possibilities of art. She has collaborated with numerous scientists, health professionals and research institutions, exploring how various aspects of the art-making process can contribute to positive mental wellbeing.

Bec Charlwood, Comedian

With effortless ability and hilarious candour, Bec delights audiences with anecdotes about her life and other searing observations, while wearing her heart, identity, and values on her sleeve.

Bec has been hand-picked to support comedians such as Alan Carr, Josh Thomas, Wil Anderson, Zoe Coombs Marr and Saturday Night Live’s Jay Pharaoh. She has also performed stand-up at Splendour in the Grass, The Sydney Opera House and comedy festival galas and clubs around the country. Continuing her upwards trajectory, Bec worked on the latest season of Spicks & Specks as a joke writer.

Jane Miskovic-Wheatley, Clinical Psychologist

Jane has a lifetime passion for the performing arts with over 20 years of experience across various aspects of theatre and live events, including choreographic direction for over 30 national and international ceremonies such as the Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth, Asian and Pan American Opening Ceremonies. She was the primary music theatre tutor at the National Institute for Dramatic Art and the Australian Theatre for Young People for over 15 years and has worked as a director, choreographer, movement director, dramaturg, acting coach and production manager. At the same time, she became a clinical psychologist and has worked in private and public practice and mental health researcher for over 20 years.

Her two professional interests fused in 2016, and she is now an industry leader in mental health for creative and performing arts, from 2025 trading under Sparkly Brains Psychology (formerly Sage Clinical Psychology). Jane proudly provides treatment services for practitioners across all creative and production disciplines, training and support for some of Australia’s leading arts organisations, including Accessible Arts, Arts on Tour NSW, Bell Shakespeare, CDP, Griffin Theatre, Michael Cassel Group, Performing Lines National, Screen Australia and Opera Australia, as well as being an advocate for mental wellbeing in creative industries.

Jane works from the lands of the Darug and Gundungurra People with respect and honour to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future. She acknowledges the individual and collective experience of those with lived and living experiences of mental health concerns and those who love and care for them. As a member of the lived experience community, her work remains committed to elevating and supporting different perspectives and experiences and working towards improving sustainable, mentally healthy practices for creative and performing communities.

Beatrice Gralton, Senior Curator of Contemporary Australian Art and Brett Whiteley Studio, Art Gallery of NSW

With over twenty years in Australian and international art museum roles, Beatrice has extensive collection management, exhibition production, commissioning and publishing experience. At the Art Gallery, she has curated Angelica Mesiti: The Rites of When; Brett Whiteley: Inside the Studio (touring 2024–25), Brett Whiteley: Chapters 1959–69 (2023–24), The National 4: Australian Art Now (2023) and Brett Whiteley: Eternity is Now (2022–23). As head curator of visual art (2017–20) and curator of visual art (2012–17) at Carriageworks, Beatrice was responsible for major multidisciplinary projects, performances and exhibitions. She has held curatorial roles at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, Washington, DC (2008–12) and the National Gallery of Australia (1999–2007).

This event is proudly funded by Women NSW as part of NSW Government.

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