Adrian Wanliss

Arts & Culture Manager | Dance Festival Programme Direction | Leading Teams, International Partnerships & Sustainable Cultural Structures | GJDC Sector Lead - Arts, Sports & Culture

Chemnitz, Saxony, Germany

About

Arts and culture leader with a strong background in contemporary dance, festival development, and organisational strategy within publicly funded and independent cultural institutions. With professional experience spanning performance, production, and management, I bring an artist-informed yet structurally driven approach to cultural leadership. I hold a Master’s degree in Arts and Cultural Management from Leuphana University of Lüneburg and have developed and led programmes that combine artistic excellence with sustainable organisational models, international collaboration, and community engagement. My work sits at the intersection of artistic practice, institutional development, and cultural policy. I advocate for the arts as an essential pillar of society and actively engage with processes of structural change—particularly where questions of sustainability, access, and representation arise. My leadership is guided by the principles of diversity, equality, and equity, not as abstract values, but as operational tools for building resilient cultural institutions and future-orientated artistic ecosystems. As a facilitator of transformation within the cultural field, I am experienced in navigating complexity, managing change, and bridging artistic vision with strategic, social, and economic realities—ensuring that the artistic spirit can thrive across generations.

Experience

  • Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) Member l Sector Lead - Arts, Sports & Culture at The Global Jamaica Diaspora Council and Youth Council
    Mar 2026 - Present · 5 mos

    Appointed member for the Arts, Sports & Culture portfolio. Supporting diaspora engagement and cultural diplomacy by strengthening Jamaican collaboration, creating partnership pathways for Jamaican participation in major global arts and sporting platforms, and activating diaspora networks across key global hubs.

  • Senior Project Coordinator at TANZ | MODERNE | TANZ
    Dec 2025 - Present · 8 mos

  • Guest Lecturer at Palucca Hochschule für Tanz Dresden
    Mar 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 5 mos

    In my lectures to both BA and MA students at the Palucca Hochschule für Tanz Dresden, I provide practical insights into the field of arts and cultural management, drawing from real-world experience. I guide students through topics such as project planning, funding strategies, contract structures, and international collaboration. My approach combines theoretical foundations with case studies and interactive discussions, helping students understand the professional landscape they will enter and equipping them with tools to navigate careers in the arts with confidence.

  • Referent der Ballettdirektion at Die Theater Chemnitz
    Apr 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 4 mos

  • Founder/Director at Project Hummingbird Ltd.
    Jul 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 1 mo