Marisa Mu is a Blacktown-born, East Timorese Chinese artist based in Melbourne who works across the breadths of painting, murals, sculpture and textiles. She is an alumna of College of Fine Arts, Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Design in 2014 and was awarded the Emerging Artist of The Year in 2019 by FortyFive Downstairs. Marisa’s purpose is to spark happiness and positive change within people through her art.

As a queer woman of colour, Marisa’s mission statement is to explore messages of pride, self-love and liberation whilst spotlighting the importance of visibility for marginalized communities whilst championing intersectional feminism and queer expression. Painting has become a form of therapy for her over the years and celebrating cultural diversity, womanhood and the LGBTQIA+ community is an embodiment of Marisa, both personally and professionally.

National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) Founded in 1958 as Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art, NIDA is both Australia’s preeminent performing arts educator, and one of the most globally respected brands in its field. NIDA’s unparalleled practice-based learning, connections to industry and culture of innovation have produced some of the world’s most influential and in-demand storytellers across stage, screen and beyond.

NIDA offers an unmatched range and depth of industry-relevant training across performing arts disciplines including: acting, costume, cultural leadership, design, directing, make-up, musical theatre, props, scenic construction, stage management, technical theatre, and writing.