Multicultural Media Adviser in the Victorian Premier’s Office, Fotis Kapetopoulos, has resigned his position at the heart of Denis Napthine’s inner sanctum to spearhead a major project for Arts Victoria.
Through his consultancy business – Kape Communications – Mr Kapetopoulos will develop an ambitious arts marketing strategy to promote key arts organisations based in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
A former editor of Neos Kosmos’ English edition, Kapetopoulos served Premiers Ted Baillieu and Denis Napthine in promoting the Coalition government’s messages to Victoria’s ethnic communities for the past two and a half years. In 2012 his brief was expanded to take on the role of Assistant Multicultural Policy Adviser.
Fotis worked for Multicultural Arts Victoria for 11 years before starting his arts marketing consultancy business in 2003.
Speaking to Neos Kosmos this week, he said that he was excited by the prospect of helping the arts in western Melbourne reach out to new audiences.
“Melbourne’s west is a culturally diverse centre and where some of the most inventive, contemporary and best community arts are to be found.
“I hope to facilitate some of these excellent arts groups’ endeavours,” he said.
Working with venues, festivals and other arts organisations across the whole of Melbourne’s west from Sunshine to Newport, Kapetopoulos sees his new project as an extension of his previous work as a passionate advocate of multicultural development.
“The whole west reflects more than anywhere else in Victoria the dramatic demographic changes that Victoria’s undertaken – the multiculturalism of the area is extraordinary, the gentrification and rapid development of the area is extraordinary,” he says.
“It’s not about just cultural diversity, it’s about business diversity and the arts connecting to the whole region, and then building international links.”
Having witnessed first-hand the Victorian government look to develop international connections, Kapetopoulos believes the same approach can be taken with the arts.
“This government developed a strong focus on international engagement which I think the west can link to, using the diversity of the area.
“I see, for instance, Footscray Arts Centre creating a bridge with Singapore, Jogjakarta, New York – latching into those scenes.”
Organisations such as Footscray Community Arts Centre, Western Edge, Substation Arts Centre, Snuff Puppets, Women’s Circus, Barkley Arts and the Big West Festival will be involved in collectively developing the proposed marketing plan with Kape Communications.
Asked what he will take away from the experience of working in the corridors of power in state government, Kapetopoulos describes his two and a half years in the Premier’s Office as “an amazing experience”, and one that had honed his advocacy skills.
“Being amongst peers who were so profoundly astute at what they did, whether you agreed with them or not, the premier’s office is an amalgam of incredible depth and intelligence.
“Working with ethnic media in that role was fascinating. They’re far more powerful than most people are aware of. I hope this Premier continues the good work that we did and I’m sure he will.”
The Victorian Premier’s Office has yet to respond to requests made by Neos Kosmos to confirm if the Multicultural Media and Assistant Policy Adviser’s position will be retained.