Yulan Jack: Tasmanian actor and writer says there’s a need for more artistic spaces

A Tasmanian actor says there’s room for more diversity in the state’s arts sector. And she hopes a big personal change will inspire others.

Actor/writer Yulan Jack at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

A Tasmanian actor and writer says one of the biggest challenges facing culturally diverse artists in the state is a lack of creative spaces, but she hopes more creators will showcase their work and improve representation.

Hobart-based Yulan Jack, who is Singaporean-Chinese Australian, was, until recently known as ‘Stephanie Jack’.

“I had wanted for a long time to reflect both Chinese and Scottish heritage, it was only quite recently I had found the name Yulan, it’s a type of magnolia,” Ms Jack said.

“The reason why the name’s so important to me, it’s combination of my mothers name, Mei Yu, and my grandmother’s name, Mulan.

“They’ve had such a great influence on me, both of them worked in hair and beauty, they were artists in their own right.

Yulan Jack artist and creative developer of Mixed Feelings. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“Everywhere I go acknowledges them and their part in the journey, that’s a beautiful shift,

it’s a strong acknowledgment of my Asian heritage, which is important when we’re talking about representation.”

Ms Jack, who has been on screen in Tasmanian shows Deadloch, Bay of Fires and Rosehaven said it was important to see diverse artists.

“For Asian people living here to visibly see Asian people on stage and on screen that’s very empowering,” she said.

“It does in an indirect way combat racism, but there needs to be far greater representation.”

She hoped it would be meaningful for Asian-Australians to see her new name on screen.

“I would get a lot of people wondering if I was half Chinese, they didn’t really know,” she said.

“The name being there, anyone who’s Chinese will see that name, it will mean something to thing, and that’s really exciting and nice.

“There’s been this big practice of people who are Chinese changing their names, it’s an interesting thing to do the opposite.”

Ms Jack said she was lucky to perform in different artistic roles over the course of her career, but she said it could be difficult for culturally diverse artists to find the right space for their craft in Tasmania.

She said in Melbourne and Sydney, spaces already existed, but in Tasmania, some artists needed to carve out their own.

“A play I’ve been writing and developing for two years now has never been seen by an audience,” she said.

“The challenge is not knowing where it should go in Tassie. There used to be Tas Theatre Company and Mona Foma, but neither of those exists anymore.

“It was a blow for emerging artists.

“Another things that’s important is that there’s adequate arts funding, it feels like a constant challenge.

“On some level, everyone understands how important the arts are, but it feels like we are constantly having to remind people its important to be willing to spend money on the arts.”

Ms Jack was the winner of an Asian-Australian Leadership Award in 2022 and hoped there would be winners from Tasmania on the list this year.

Originally published as Yulan Jack: Tasmanian actor and writer says there’s a need for more artistic spaces