Louise Cooper is a proud Autistic creative nomad, a platformer of untold stories and amplifier of unheard voices. As a socially engaged artist, she has independently created animations, painted murals, programmed augmented reality trails and self-published books. Louise is the president of not for profit, ARCANE Inc, and organiser of Australia’s first and to date only neurodiversity arts festival. She has enjoyed the opportunity to mentor younger, up and coming artists as a producer of projects. Louise has worked for Regional Arts Victoria and Western Riverina Arts. She is currently based in Castlemaine, Djaara Country, in Central Victoria.
Arts Projects
2024 – Neurokin Tour funded by the Victorian government through Creative Victoria and the Australian government through the Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal
2023 – PLACE: Place-based Learning Arts and Cultural Exchange funded by the Victorian government through Creative Victoria
2023 – Sensory Sanctuary Neurodiversity Arts Festival (Australia’s first and to date only neurodiversity arts festival) funded by box office, Community Bank Maldon & District, and Castlemaine Rotary Club.
2022 – Dunolly Women’s Historical Art Trail funded by the Australian government through Regional Arts Victoria, and Community Bank Maldon and District, an augmented reality trail memorialising the lives and stories of remarkable women that lived in Dunolly during the gold rush.
2022 – Banjo Bilby’s Small Schools Big Adventures, a self-published creative non-fiction picture book documenting 2015/6 mail art project.
2022 – My Creative Recovery, a self-published activity book for children who survived the northern NSW mega floods. Crowdfunded the money to print and donate 1600 copies.
Academia
2024 – Co-Designer of The Community Attitudes Towards Autism Genetics Study – Monash University
2024 – Completed Graduate Certificate in Autism Studies at Griffith University, Grade: Credit
2024 – Autistic Advisor on Creating Supports for Autistic Working Mothers – LaTrobe University
2024 – Research Participant on Experiences of the Autistic Community with Victoria Police – AMAZE