Willow McWaters-Smith

I’m a third year Arts & Cultural Management student at WAAPA, an events and arts worker, and someone who genuinely loves being around creative people and making things happen.

My experience sits across events, live music and digital marketing, which is exactly where I want my career to grow. I currently work as an Events Assistant at the City of South Perth, where I help plan and deliver community and cultural events, coordinate entertainment and work with stakeholders, suppliers and event teams to make sure everything runs smoothly. I’ve also worked across arts administration, festival marketing and live music operations, including with Youth Ballet WA, CresFest, Paris Fringe Festival and HyperFest.

One of my favourite things about working in the arts is that no two days are quite the same. I love the mix of creativity and organisation, one minute I can be working on a social media campaign, and the next I’m coordinating an event, solving a problem on site or making sure an artist has what they need. I’m naturally organised, a quick learner and probably happiest when I have a million things to plan and somehow make them all work.

Music is a particularly big part of my life. I’ve studied and played music since I was six, and I’m especially passionate about Perth’s live music scene. I’m not a musician by profession (although I am teaching myself guitar and drum kit for fun!), but I love being on the other side of the stage, figuring out how to create great experiences for artists and audiences.

Long term, I want to use my experience to support and empower Australian artists, particularly Perth musicians, and contribute to a stronger local live music industry.

Have a look around my portfolio to see some of the events, marketing projects and creative work I’ve been lucky enough to be part of.