Ramírez’ labour in the arts is about facilitating spaces beyond identity conventions, careerism and stylistic expectations. He believes in encouraging unconventional ideas, increasing participation, amplifying unheard voices, and platforming new artists.
Arts Manager
He is the former Director of Seventh Gallery, an artist led organisation founded in 2000, that became notable during his tenure (2018-2023) for gathering pivotal voices. Ramírez left to focus on new projects, after securing local, state and federal funding with Lana Nguyen, Eliki Reade and Thea Jones.
Indeed, since taking over the space in late 2018, and in strong collaboration with Thea Jones and the rest of the Board, Seventh underwent a crucial period of transformation and rapid growth. Moving from a grassroots space without currency, to a valuable micro arts organisation that employed staff to run multiple funded programs, including 2 fully subsidised studios, mentorships, public programs and workshops.
From 2020-2021, he directed the complex relocation of the space to 213-215 Church St, Richmond by securing a partnership with local government, in the backdrop of a health crisis.
Editor & Curator
In 2024, he is the Assistant Editor with Verónica Tello on the Parallel Structures book. He was the Editor in Residence for un Magazine’s Extended platform in 2023, where he commissioned pieces by Vidya Rajan, Philip Brophy, and Natalie Thomas.
This built upon his work as the Editor-at-large at Running Dog in 2020, an arts journal that was based in Sydney, where he commissioned pieces by emerging writers, such as Zarah Butcher McGunningle, Andrew Sutherland and a special project by Ari Tampubolon in 2022. He also did occasional editing for Performance Review, an online journal dedicated to performance art.
In 2022, he co-curated the screening the Discomfort of Everything with Taylor Mitchell for Dogmilk Films. He also curated the exhibition Family Grimoires: The Diaspora Fantastic at Seventh Gallery in 2018.
Mentor, Workshops & Peer
In 2024, he is delivering writing workshops for Writers Victoria on the Vampire as Text as well as workshops for Kings Ari x un Projects, on Auto-satire and Performance Monologue for TCB Inc.
In 2023, he was the artist mentor for Parramata’s PAS Open Residency program. This drew from his experience as a mentor for SIGNAL Screen x Sound Commission 2021 and the Mentorship Program he instigated at Seventh in 2021-22.
He was a member of Darebin Arts & Heritage Advisory Panel, External Assessor for City of Melbourne Arts Grants Panel, Peer Assessor for Australia Council, Board member of Performance Review. In 2022, he sat for Creative Victoria’s Creators Fund Peer assessment.