ACCA gets new executive director

For the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art’s (ACCA’s) new executive director, a return to the arts precinct – and specifically Sturt St – has been a long time coming.

Claire Richardson once worked the front of house right next door at the Malthouse Theatre.

Since then she’s managed exhibitions at the National Gallery of Victoria, TarraWarra Museum of Art and at the City of Stonington.

“I always loved art, so I actually studied art history and a Master of Creatorship at the University of Melbourne and then I started going more into exhibition management,” she said.

“I’ve always just loved artists, artistic vision, creativity, but I’m not creative myself and so it’s been a really wonderful pairing for me to have that arts administration and management experience and business experience.”

For that reason, she said, her new role was the dream job.

“It’s a really great role at a really wonderful institution that I’ve known and respected for a long time,” she said.

“ACCA has a uniqueness that I think is very much based on the artistic program. It’s a really fantastic program that looks at emerging artists but more established artists as well.”

After her first week in the role, Claire told Southbank Local News ACCA was working on a renewed strategic vision and she was excited for the 2020 program.

“The program is really exciting, it’s extending the kinds of series so there’ll be some shows with a single artist, international artists, Australian artists, some groups as well,” she said.

“ACCA’s focus on artists is fantastic but it’s a focus on wider contemporary practice as well, so not just visual arts, but perhaps different forms of creative output.”

“It makes it a really exciting place to be and to be involved with. I think I’m very excited more than overwhelmed.”