The Founder
Joanna Robertson - Director, Kidogo Art InstituteAn award-winning painter, Joanna is a graduate from Dublin's prestigious National College of Art and Design's five-year degree in Fine Art. Since 1981, she has worked as a professional artist and art lecturer in Ireland, USA and Australia.
Joanna grew up in Tanzania, was educated in Ireland, studied art in Paris and Dublin and won a two year artist residency to the US on the North Carolina Arts Council's "Visiting Artist's Program". In 2007, she was chosen to be artist-in-residence on the legendary Russian icebreaker "KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV" in the Arctic.
In 1993, Joanna set up an independent art school that became known as the Kidogo Institute. In 1998, she founded the Kidogo Arthouse to operate as a privately run, independent art centre. It has since become an extremely well known and successful cultural centre hosting over 200 exhibitions and hundreds of community events. Kidogo has played a key role in the support and nurturing of young artists and art and culture in Western Australia.
Joanna Robertson is a recognised leader in the arts industry in Western Australia and Kidogo's success has been due to Joanna's vision and her acute ability to identify and fill niche opportunities in the arts and education fields in Australia.