In our ongoing profile series of the people who make up our arts precinct, we talk to Jeff Khan, Creative Director of Asia TOPA, about the power of performance – and leading with vibes!
What attracted to you to the role at Arts Centre Melbourne?

I’d spent over a decade building an Asia Pacific network and program for Performance Space and its Liveworks Festival in Sydney and was ready for a new challenge. Asia TOPA had already achieved so much in such a short space of time, and I was excited to expand that legacy and see how else this festival could transform audience and artist experience – not only here in Melbourne but across the world.

What is your leadership style?

I just asked my colleague this question and they told me, “you lead with vibes,” which I take as a huge compliment! I think this means that I strive to embody the values Asia TOPA puts out there into the world: creative inspiration, inclusivity, connection and joy. This feels especially important in a sector where the constant ebb and flow of resources and constant challenges around access and equity can be exhausting. You have to believe in the value of what you do, draw strength from that, and inspire others.

What was the last show you saw that rocked your world?

I’ve just returned from Seoul Performing Arts Festival where I saw the theatre work Haribo Kimchi by Korean theatre director Jaha Khoo. It was extraordinary! Effortlessly combining storytelling, on-stage cooking, original songs, robot performers and exquisite video installation, Haribo Kimchi used stories of food to connect to issues of migration, loneliness and the eternal search for home. It reminded me of the unparalleled power of performance to move us and connect our personal experience with global events.

What are you most looking forward to seeing?

I’m both a festival junkie and a Perth boy, so I get especially excited to see what’s in the Perth Festival program each year. It’s just dropped, and I’m looking forward to diving in.

What’s on the horizon at Arts Centre Melbourne that we should keep our eyes out for?

Asia TOPA will soon present our first public event since our hugely memorable 2025 festival. Asia TOPA Radar (November 19) will bring together a choreographer, a composer, a dance artist and a DJ to explore what’s new in the world of Asia-Pacific arts and culture. It’s like a cross between an artist talk, a performance and a party – come for the art, stay for the vibes!

 

Photo: Liz Ham.

Recent news

View more