People
Meet the PAS Team and find out what they do
The Parramatta Artists Studio team encompasses a range of artists, curators, and writers with a breadth of experience across the NSW and Western Sydney visual arts sector.
Sidney McMahon, Director
Sidney McMahon has worked in the visual arts sector for over 15 years as a curator, artist and administrator. They have been part of the Parramatta Artists Studios community since 2016 – as a Studio Artist from 2016—17, later joining the PAS team as Programs Officer and Curator and Artist Development.Previously they have held positions at Performance Space, Art Month Sydney, Utp, UNSW Art & Design and The University of Sydney, and Palais de Tokyo, Paris.
As an artist they have presented their work at the Art Gallery of NSW, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA), UTS Gallery & Art Collection, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Verge Gallery, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, and internationally at Auto Italia, London and 3331 Arts Chiyoda Tokyo.
JD Reforma, Curator and Artist Development
JD Reforma is an artist, curator, and writer with over 15 years of experience across the visual arts sector. He has previously held positions at Artspace, Minerva, the Biennale of Sydney, and UTS Gallery & Art Collection, and Firstdraft.
He has presented major commissioned works for institutions across Australia, including the Art Gallery of NSW, the Art Gallery of South Australia, and Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA), Melbourne. He has served on multiple boards since 2014, including Firstdraft, the Cultural and Creative Sector Advisory Panel, City of Sydney and most recently the Board of Directors of Art Month Sydney.
Claire Finneran, Program Producer
Claire Finneran is a writer, editor, artist and arts worker from Widjabul country (Lismore). She is a media professional with over 20 years experience in culture journalism, the entertainment industry and contemporary arts.
She most recently worked as a National Editor at Time Out Australia and The Thousands. Claire has diverse experiences curating and programming events as well as exhibiting in galleries and festivals around Australia.
She has worked for digital art app Arthur, Golden Age Cinema, Right Angle Studio and Hopscotch Film.
Samia Sayed, Program Producer
Samia Sayed is an artist and arts worker and has been working in the sector for over a decade through production, curation and her own artistic practice. She has worked across major institutions, grassroots organisations, and community-led initiatives, with a particular focus on supporting and sustaining artistic practice, access and nurturing long-form relationships with many communities. As an artist, she works with video, poetry and performance -- challenging traditional storytelling structures and inviting new relationships between performer and audience.
In 2025, she received an Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups grant from Creative Australia and is a recipient of the inaugural Performance Space Experimental Fellowship (2023). She has presented work at institutions including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Carriageworks and Campbelltown Arts Centre.
Lorraine Zaher, Administration Support Officer
Lorraine Zaher works as Administrative Support Officer for Parramatta Artists Studios and Cultural Services, and has been with City of Parramatta since 2010. She is a crucial member of the PAS team, facilitating functional and efficient operations across studio sites, overseeing all administrative operations, supporting procurement processes, and providing excellent customer service.
Lorraine is the longest serving member of what is now the City Culture team, and has been an enthusiastic supporter of artists across all past and present Parramatta Artists Studios locations.