Creative Thinking-Positive Solutions

Positive Solutions purpose is to strengthen cultural and social enterprise through targeted consultation and training. Our work informs policy, assists with decision-making and planning, or enhances industry knowledge. Sensitivity to local cultural contexts is a keynote of our approach.

Positive Solutions has successfully completed projects for hundreds of clients in Australia, the UK, Hong Kong and New Zealand including:

• strategic research projects and cultural policy development for federal and state governments
• cultural facilities planning and feasibility studies, particularly for public performing arts facilities, museums and cultural precincts
• business planning for cultural organisations and major cultural facilities
• public art and curatorial strategies for major institutions and cultural precincts
• governance training and organisational development for a large range of not for profit organisations

Directors

Cathy Hunt (BA Hons M. Phil)
Cathy is one of the founding directors of Positive Solutions with over 20 years experience of working in the arts and creative industries both in Australia and the UK. Her previous professional experience was in the management of art centres, touring performing companies and festivals, including as Founding Director of the UK Liverpool Festival of Comedy and Artistic Programmer of Battersea Arts Centre, London.

In Australia, Cathy has worked extensively on cultural policy development including cultural plans for local governments, strategy reviews and planning for State government, cultural facility developments and organisational and business planning for arts organisations. This has included the preparation of a regional and district cultural facilities strategy for the Government of Hong Kong, with GHK Consulting (HK).

Cathy has a first degree in English and Theatre Studies and a Master of Philosophy (through the School of Architecture, University of Liverpool UK), on the design and development process of buildings for the performing arts. 

 

David Fishel (MA, M.Litt)  
Prior to co-founding Positive Solutions in 1990, David managed arts organisations ranging from small scale touring theatre companies to arts centre and theatre venues. David has led business and strategic planning processes for sports, cultural, educational and Indigenous organisations. He has delivered training in board development, management and leadership skills, arts-business partnerships and strategic planning.

David is author of The Book of the Board, now in its second edition, a handbook for board members of non-profit organisations, published by Federation Press in Australia, and as Boards That Work by the Directory of Social Change in the UK.

David is a graduate of Liverpool, Newcastle and Oxford Universities. He has been a board member of several cultural organisations in Australia and the UK and is currently Chair of the Creative Industries Precinct (CIP) Board at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).