PICA announces new Director
15 February 2006
A graduate of the University of Western Australia, and having undertaken postgraduate study at the Sotheby's Institute in London, Amy Barrett-Lennard will be returning to Perth to head up one of Australia's leading contemporary arts organisations.
PICA Chairman, Bret Mattes, is delighted that the talented curator and arts manager has accepted this important position, saying:
"Amy brings extensive curatorial and management experience to her new role as Director of PICA. She has built a high profile in Victoria and nationally, and has transformed the Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts in Melbourne into a dynamic and innovative organisation. Her enthusiasm, energy and strong knowledge of the arts in Western Australia, as well as nationally and internationally, will stand the organisation in good stead as PICA moves into the next exciting phase of its development."
For the past five years she has been Director of Linden, St Kilda Centre for Contemporary Arts in Melbourne, where she has been responsible for a dynamic program of exhibitions, events and public programs, the management of the centre's physical, financial and human resources as well as having responsibility for marketing, policy and strategic development. A strong and effective advocate for contemporary art and artists, her tenure has been marked by increased support for artists, greater curatorial independence, strong audience growth and increased revenue for the centre from more diverse sources.
Prior to that Amy held positions as Curator of the Goldfields Arts Centre Gallery in Kalgoorlie and the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery in Victoria.
Amy's curatorial history indicates an excellent fit with PICA programming given her strong interest in working with artists from a wide array of cultural backgrounds and across a broad range of media. She has substantial experience working with Indigenous artists as well as artists from the Asia Pacific region.
Her commitment to the broader arts community is demonstrated through a wide range of professional associations. She is Chair of the NETS Victoria Committee of Management; Secretary of the Museums Australia Victorian Management Committee; member of the Linking the Learning Communities Port Phillip Working Group; and Chair of the Museums Australia Victoria Training & Professional Development Sub Committee. In 2003 - 4, she was a member of Arts Victoria's Assessment Panel for Presentation and Innovation Arts Development Funding Programs.
"I am delighted to be taking up this position", said Amy "PICA has such a strong national and international reputation for developing, presenting and touring innovative and uncompromising contemporary art across a range of art forms. I'm definitely looking forward to the opportunity to further develop PICA's programs and the role it plays on a local and broader level."
Amy Barrett-Lennard is the third Director of PICA since its incorporation in 1989. Ms Barrett-Lennard's appointment follows on from inaugural Director, Noel Sheridan, (1989 - 1993) and Sarah Miller (1994 - 2006). Ms Barrett-Lennard will take up her position on Monday 3 April 2006.
