The Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group
Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group
The Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group provides strategic artistic and cultural advice to Nexus Arts, helping to shape our programs, priorities and long-term vision.
Comprised of First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse artists and arts practitioners, the group offers diverse perspectives, industry knowledge and lived experience to support our commitment to intercultural contemporary arts.
Through regular dialogue with the Nexus Arts team, the Advisory Group helps ensure our work remains relevant, inclusive and responsive to the communities we serve.
The purpose of the Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group is to:
- Support Nexus Arts in the pursuit of its vision and mission
- Provide comment on the breadth and diversity of representation of culturally diverse and First Nations communities in the organisation’s activity
- Provide input, advocacy and specialised knowledge to guide the organisation’s aims to promote, support and develop culturally diverse and intercultural artistic practice.
The Group’s objectives and responsibilities are to:
- Strengthen Nexus Arts’ engagement with artists, audiences and community, and its local and national relevance
- Monitor community engagement with Nexus Arts
- Support and develop interest in the organisation
- Provide independent advice and review of Nexus Arts’ implementation of relevant programming, through biannual meetings
- Give feedback on the organisation’s activities and how they are supporting its mission
- Represent the interests of the local and wider arts community
- Strengthen advocacy for the organisation
Key things to know:
- The term is for 2 years, and there will be a minimum of 4 meetings a year. It is expected that members attend each meeting
- Group members are expected to be familiar with, and agree with the aims of the Nexus Arts Mission, Vision, and Goals
- The Group is not responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organisation, but will be able to offer non-binding advice to the Board and Management
- The Group will be appointed by the Board, but will operate independently
- The Group will have between 5 and 8 members, with a diverse range of skills and knowledge
- Members will receive an honorarium for each meeting in recognition of their time
- Meetings would preferably be held in-person on Kaurna Yarta (Adelaide, South Australia), but other options can be discussed and agreed on by the Group
Members
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Satomi Ohnishi
Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group Member
2026-2028
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Shenshen Zheng
Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group Member
2026-2028
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Raquel Larkins
Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group Member
2026-2028
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Maryam Rahmani
Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group Member
2026-2028
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Samuel La
Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group Member
2026-2028
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Alyssa Powell-Ascura
Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group Member
2026 – 2028
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Lester Wong
Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group Member
2026-2028
Satomi Ohnishi
Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group Member
2026-2028
Satomi is a drummer and percussionist who studied Jazz drumming in Japan. She has performed at various festivals, including WOMADelaide, the OzAsia Festival, the Woodford Folk Festival (QLD) Dark Mofo (TAS), and Nannup Music Festival (WA).
She is an active member of several musical groups: San Ureshi, Farhan Shah & SufiOZ, Anya Anastasia, and Hyoshi in Counterpoint. She has been nationally touring with San Ureshi to present “Life is an Echo” for Musica Viva in schools.
Since Satomi earned a Master Certificate in Arranging and Orchestration from Berklee Online, she started composing and arranging for the bands she works. She also works for schools as an instructor and ensemble director.
Shenshen Zheng
Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group Member
2026-2028
Shenshen Zheng is an emerging visual artist living and working on Kaurna Country (Adelaide). She graduated from Adelaide Central School of Art with a Bachelor of Visual Art in 2024. Her interdisciplinary practice celebrates cultural diversity and investigates the complex relationships between humans and the more-than-human world through drawing, painting, ceramics, installation, and social engaged practice.
Zheng has been selected for a number of group exhibitions, including Adelaide Contemporary Experimental, South Australian Museum, the Heysen Sculpture Biennial, Immersive Light and Art, and Central Gallery. She was the recipient of the 2024 SALA Festival residency at Nexus Arts, which resulted in her first solo exhibition, Root and Fruit – Sharing Home Garden Nostalgia.
Zheng was also the inaugural recipient of the 2025 BLOOMS Residency at Hyphenated Projects, culminating in her solo exhibition Where Clay Meets Water at Post Office Projects.
Raquel Larkins
Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group Member
2026-2028
Raquel is a proud Kokatha, Dieri Arabana and Narungga woman artist and Mum.
Her artwork is inspired her children, her old people and her country. Painting for her is a form of healing and connection. Her journey in this space has allowed her to grow as an artist.
She loves being part of the creative arts world and hopes she can inspire others to follow their dreams.
Maryam Rahmani
Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group Member
2026-2028
Maryam Rahmani is an Iranian-born santur player based in Adelaide. Her music draws deeply from Persian classical traditions and poetry, enriched by her studies of traditional instruments and rhythmic structures.
Since relocating to Australia, she has developed a collaborative practice across genres, exploring new contexts for her instrument and deepening her engagement with cultural exchange and musical heritage.
Samuel La
Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group Member
2026-2028
Samuel Lau is a Hong Kong-Australian actor, musician and theatre maker based on Kaurna Land. A graduate of the Adelaide College of Arts, Sam’s stage credits include The Questions (State Theatre Company South Australia), The Story of Chi (Terrapin Puppet Theatre x Contemporary Asian-Australian Performance) and the international production of Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding (Singapore Repertory Theatre).
Sam is also an accomplished musician. A multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer, he often combines his musicianship with the theatre, playing music and acting in numerous cabarets such as Leslie & Anita by Nicky TszTung Li and in musicals such as The Questions directed by Mitchell Butel.
Alyssa Powell-Ascura
Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group Member
2026 – 2028
Alyssa Powell-Ascura is an award-winning, multi-hyphenated “slashie”, primarily known as a socially engaged visual artist, writer and curator. Her practice is deeply embedded in bayanihan, which refers to acting within a framework that prioritises community, focusing on a collaborative approach.
Reimagining hierarchical models of curating, Powell-Ascura emphasises the importance of building accessible pathways for the artists, the audiences and the decision makers to safely engage and cultivate culture.
Working in the intersections of food, culture and community, her work intricately holds space for an open dialogue, intertwining personal history with broader societal narratives.
She was the inaugural artist recipient for pilot programs such as the Delima Residency (2023, Malaysia) and Watch This Space x FELTspace Artist Exchange Program (2024, Mparntwe/ Alice Springs).
Her first solo exhibition, Halo-halo (2024) received The City of Adelaide SALA Award (2024). Recent achievements include being appointed The City of Adelaide Emerging Curator (2025) and receiving the Guildhouse Catapult Mentorship (2026).
If she’s not talking to the local aunties, she can be found by the beach or singing karaoke late at night.
Lester Wong
Artistic and Cultural Advisory Group Member
2026-2028
Lester grew up in Singapore and moved to South Australia in 2012. He graduated with First Class Honours in Violin Performance from the Elder Conservatorium of Music, studying with Keith Crellin and Wendy Heiligenberg, and is the recipient of the Elder Conservatorium Director’s Award, the Arved and Suzanne Kurtz Scholarship, the Florence Cooke Violin Prize, and the Prize for Excellence in Postgraduate Research.
As a huqin player, he was a First Prize winner at the Singapore National Chinese Music Competition and studied with renowned huqin player Zhang Yuming. He is also a founding member of Silk Strings Ensemble, an Adelaide-based huqin trio.
He has led orchestras on multiple national tours with Co-Opera and the State Opera of South Australia, and has performed in and attended major festivals and music programs across Australia.
He is currently Director of Music Performance at Pembroke School, and also serves as a board observer with Chamber Music Adelaide, a board member of the Adelaide Hills Chamber Players, and committee member with South Australia State Music Camp.
Lester is also pursuing a PhD at the University of Adelaide, investigating the performance intersection between the violin and huqin.