Rachel Jefferies leads SCAPE Public Art, Aotearoa New Zealand’s foremost producer of contemporary public art.

Born and raised in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Rachel has worked across Aotearoa’s arts sector, from small community-led teams to national organisations including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and Auckland Philharmonia. Wherever she’s worked, she’s been driven by a belief in the power of art to connect people.

“It’s about bringing people together to create something greater than the sum of its parts,” she says. “That’s what I love about SCAPE – uniting artists, communities, and local industry expertise to make extraordinary things happen in public spaces.”

Rachel began her career as a classically trained percussionist before moving into arts management. She holds a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours from Victoria University of Wellington, a Diploma in Publishing from Whitireia Polytechnic, and an MBA from the University of Auckland.

At SCAPE, Rachel champions openness, collaboration, and fresh ideas, helping to bring creative projects to life in Ōtautahi Christchurch’s public spaces.