Mariam Arcilla is a Gold Coast based curator, marketer, cultural researcher and artswriter. She currently works for the public sector and is Co-Founder/Co-Director at  Rabbit + Cocoon creative industries precinct. She is passionate about artist-run projects, placemaking and cultural advocacy, and has collaborated with people and organisations on various projects that promote civic creativity. She has curated exhibitions for 19 KAREN, Surfers Paradise Festival, Tales from the Cold Ghost and Nine Lives, and has written for cultural publications notably RealTime, Art Monthly, The Thousands and Gold Coast Creative. Mariam moved to the Gold Coast in 1996, and ten years later completed a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (First Class) at Griffith University. Upon graduating she co-founded tinygold artist-run initiative, and curated exhibition programs that showcased emerging Southeast Queensland artists.

At 25 she was accepted into the Young Artists Mentoring Program (Youth Arts Queensland), which led her to Co-found 19 KAREN Contemporary Artspace, and for two years as Gallery Director she produced over 50 arts programs and exhibitions showcasing national and international emerging and professional artists. Mariam has also worked for Gold Coast City Council as a Cultural Developer, and as a Research Assistant at Griffith University. As an artist she has exhibited at artspaces such as Judith Wright Centre for Contemporary Arts, Metro Arts gallery, Nine Lives, Electrofringe New Media Festival and Jugglers Artspace. In 2011 Mariam received the Arts Queensland Regional Arts and Cultural Award for her voluntary contributions to the Gold Coast cultural community, and previously featured on the cover of the Gold Coast White Pages under the national theme ‘creative Australians inspiring our community.’ Her community projects have been featured on Channel 9, ABC TV/Radio, Art Monthly, Gold Coast Bulletin, Monster Children, Triple J Radio and Naked City-Guide. She twits here and blogs there.