Wesley Enoch, respected indigenous arts leader is coming home to Brisbane

Wesley Enoch went south to take one of the top jobs in Australian arts and now after five years he’s returning home.

Wesley Enoch at home in Surry Hills. Picture Ryan Osland

When indigenous writer and director Wesley Enoch talks people in the arts listen.

Earlier this year he slammed Queensland Theatre over a lack of indigenous programming. That caused a sensation and the ripple effects of that are still playing out.

Enoch, 51, is coming back to Brisbane, where he started out in the arts, to take up a position as Indigenous Chair in the Creative Industries with QUT, based at the Kelvin Grove Campus, starting next Monday. He is a QUT alumnus and has been director of the Sydney Festival for the past five years. Prior to that he was artistic director at Queensland Theatre Company so his comments about programming at our State theatre company were listened to very carefully.

Wesley Enoch is coming back to where his arts career began. Picture Ryan Osland

He’s happy that the company he loves and once ran has taken notice.

“Queensland Theatre is dealing with it now which is great,” Enoch says. The Enoch name is big in the arts with sister Leeanne serving as Arts Minister in the Palaszczuk government.

“I tell this story how on election night my mother said to me - you know she’s going to be more famous than you now,” Enoch says.

His new job will take up six months of the year and he will use the role to contribute to the national conversation on global issues including climate change, aged care, technology, human rights an indigenous issues.

“Indigenous culture should be part of the national and international conversation around global issues like climate change, healthcare, human rights and more,” Enoch says. “I will be using my new position to bring it to the table across as many forums as possible. Aged care is a good example. In Indigenous culture older people are elders of the community and that should be the case for everyone no matter their heritage. They are the living libraries of our history. They should be cared for and respected.”

Wesley Enoch’s sister is Leeanne Enoch, Minister for Communities and Housing and Minister for the Arts and Digital Economy of Queensland. Picture: Jono Searle

Enoch will also pursue his career as a playwright and director. His groundbreaking play The 7 Stages of Grieving debuted at Metro Arts in Brisbane in 1995 and he has written and directed many works since then. His latest, Appropriate, opens this week with Sydney Theatre Company.

“The show I’m directing in Sydney opens on Friday night and my first day at QUT is on Monday,” Enoch says,. “I will have to get used to the commute since I’ll be living at Dunwich on Minjerribah where I have a house.” Enoch was born on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) and will divide his time between “Straddie”, Sydney and Melbourne where his partner, David McAllister (former artistic director of the Australian Ballet) lives.

Enoch’s great aunt was the poet, political activist and educator Oodgeroo Noonuccal, his greatest inspiration. His first professional acting job was in One Woman’s Song, a play about her life. He intends to continue with her legacy and is looking forward to being back “on country”.

QUT Vice-Chancellor and president Professor Margaret Sheil says Enoch will “lead the way in a national conversation on the place of indigenous Australia within the creative industries through the unique First Nations perspective”.

Enoch’s position will be funded through a donation from businessman, philanthropist and QUT alumnus Greg Creed who says that “amplifying Indigenous perspectives can lift the whole country together”.