Bethany (Beth) Ashley-Ward is a Māori (Uenuku-Tuwharetoa) woman from Ōtaki, Aotearoa (New Zealand), living on Kaurna Land in Modbury North, South Australia. She began her career as a visual artist, specialising in mixed media, experimental photography, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and installation. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours), a Certificate IV in Project Management, and Certificate III in Business Administration, Government, and Arts Administration.
Beth has held significant roles in South Australia’s arts and cultural sector. As Manager of Arts Programs (Communities) at Carclew, she led key initiatives including Aboriginal Artists in Schools, Nunga Days, Ngarrindjeri Yanun, Tjitjiku Tjukurpa, ExpressWay Arts, and Pom Pom. Her earlier roles at Carclew included supporting programs such as Off the Couch and Cargo. She has also worked as Arts Programs and Grants Officer at Country Arts SA, Community Partnerships and Program Lead at Northern Sound System, Manager of Public Programs at the South Australian Museum, and Coordinator at Kurruru Arts & Culture Hub. She has led community projects including Dolphins in the Port for the inaugural Port Festival and worked with the City of Port Adelaide Enfield on public programming.
Beth’s creative practice spans over two decades, exhibiting in solo and group shows and working across community and cultural development.
She is currently working part-time as Public Art Consultant for the City of Campbelltown on public art policy and processes, and is the Visual Arts Coordinator at Tutti Arts (Brighton), supporting learning disabled and neurodivergent artists in their contemporary practice. Beth also serves as Board Member for Open Space Contemporary Arts (OSCA), Secretary for He Waka Eke Noa Māori Suicide Prevention Network, and is a 2022‚2023 graduate of Creative Australia’s Arts Leaders Program.