ACMI director moves roles to lead Arts Precinct renewal

Director and CEO of the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) Katrina Sedgwick has stepped down to oversee the $1.7 billion transformation of Southbank’s Arts Precinct.

After more than seven years at the helm of Australia’s national museum for screen culture, Ms Sedgwick will take up the role of director and chief executive of Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation (MAP Co).

The state government-established entity is set to drive the vision for Australia’s largest ever cultural infrastructure project.

MAP Co will also be responsible for running Federation Square and the new 18,000-square-metre elevated public park in Southbank.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime project and I am honoured – and excited – to have the opportunity to work with colleagues across our arts precinct, our creative sector and beyond to realise this extraordinary vision for all Victorians,” she said.

One of Victoria’s most respected creative leaders, Ms Sedgwick has an extensive background as a performer, creative producer, commissioner and festival director.

She was the founding director/CEO of the Adelaide Film Festival (2002-2011), before working as the head of arts for ABC TV (2012-14).

In early 2015 Sedgwick was appointed as director and CEO at ACMI, where she led the organisation through a period of expansion and transformation, culminating in a $40 million capital project.

She navigated ACMI through the impact of COVID-19 and, according to the organisation, there was now “no barriers to where and how ACMI can be accessed.”

Reflecting on her time, Ms Sedgwick said it had been an “extraordinary honour” to lead as director and CEO.

“Together we have positioned ACMI at the forefront of museum culture on a local and global scale not just in terms of our programs but our focus on making ACMI more accessible, welcoming and reflective of our communities,” she said.

I could not be prouder of our achievements. And as I move into this new role, I look forward to collaborating with ACMI and our colleagues across the sector as we seize the extraordinary opportunity of the Melbourne Arts Precinct to enable the cultural capital of Australia to further flourish though the incredible talent that resides in our city and state.

ACMI board president Janet Matton paid tribute to the role Ms Sedgwick played during the past seven years.

“On behalf of the ACMI board, I’d like to thank Katrina Sedgwick for her outstanding leadership of ACMI, which has included rising to the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Matton said.

“Katrina is a wonderful ambassador for the moving image and leaves a legacy of a newly transformed museum that lies at the heart of Victoria’s creative industries. I’m certain that Katrina will continue to be a huge asset to our city through her leadership of Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation.”

In 2020, Ms Sedgwick was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her services to performing arts, screen industries and visual arts administration.

She will begin her new role on April 4 •

Caption: Katrina Sedgwick will lead the corporation set to oversee the $1.7 billion Arts Precinct transformation. (Photo: Phoebe Powell).