Maud Page has been appointed the tenth Director of the Art Gallery of NSW, ushering in a new era of leadership for the 154-year-old institution.
Ms Page, who is the current Deputy Director and Director of Collections at the Art Gallery, is the first female director.
With over 2 million visits a year, the Art Gallery of NSW is one most significant cultural institutions in Australia.
Ms Page, who was appointed following a global search for the best candidate to take the Art Gallery forward, brings more than two decades of experience in major public art galleries in Australia and internationally.
She is known for her exceptional curatorial vision, operational expertise, and breadth of experience in collections and exhibitions.
Since joining the Art Gallery in 2017, Ms Page has been driving the gallery's shift to expanding the institution's reach beyond its home in the Domain. Through innovative programming-ranging from community outreach initiatives to international blockbusters like Magritte-she has played a key role in engaging new audiences, particularly in Western Sydney and regional NSW.
Under her leadership, the Art Gallery has ensured a strong First Nations voice and focus on engaging children in art, with the opening of the Children's Art Library, and popular Hive Children's Festival.
Ms Page will commence in the role on Friday, 28 March.
Outgoing ninth Director, Dr Michael Brand, leaves an important legacy for the people of NSW.
Dr Brand joined the Art Gallery in June 2012. Under his thirteen-year leadership the institution experienced remarkable growth in its programming, visitor numbers and cultural influence. From leading the largest cultural development in the city since the Sydney Opera House with the completion of the Sydney Modern Project and opening of the Naala Badu building, Dr Brand oversaw a significant transformation in the institution into globally significant art museum, to securing major international exhibitions including Matisse and Rembrandt.
Minister for Arts, John Graham said:
"I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr Brand for his exceptional contribution to the institution and to the broader arts community. I wish Dr Brand the best for the next chapter of his career.
"I congratulate Maud Page on her appointment to the role. She has already been a driving force to help grow its annual visitation to 2 million per year, ranking it 28 out of 100 in the world's most visited art museums in the annual international Art Newspaper survey.
"I look forward to Ms Page's leadership and programming that engages new audiences from across Western Sydney, young and old."
President, Art Gallery of NSW Trust Michael Rose said:
"I am delighted to welcome Maud Page to the role of Director of the Art Gallery of NSW.
"With over two decades of experience in art galleries, Maud is highly respected both nationally and internationally for her exceptional curatorial vision and financial acumen. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to community engagement, broadening cultural perspectives and attracting new audiences to public institutions for the benefit of all.
"This is an exciting appointment for the Art Gallery, and the Trustees and I look forward to working with Maud.
"I'd also like to extend my sincere thanks to outgoing Director Dr Michael Brand, who has led the organisation through an incredible period of change and growth."
Incoming Art Gallery of NSW Director, Ms Maud Page said:
"I am delighted to have been appointed as the tenth Director of the Art Gallery of NSW, and the first woman to lead this prestigious and vibrant public institution.
"I strongly believe in the transformative power of art and look forward to working with artists and colleagues at my neighbouring cultural institutions and in greater Sydney as well as further afield with regional galleries and museums across the state, to welcome new audiences and families."
"I would also like to extend my deep gratitude to Michael Brand for his collegial leadership. Working alongside him for the conceptualisation and realisation of our new building, Naala Badu, was extraordinary and a highlight of my professional career."
About the Art Gallery of New South Wales
- The Art Gallery of NSW is currently ranked 28th in the world's top 100 most popular art museums in the annual international Art Newspaper survey.
- Established in 1871, it is one of Australia's pre-eminent art museums and the state's leading visual arts institution - a centre of excellence for the collection, preservation, documentation, interpretation and display of Australian and international art, and a forum for scholarship, art education and the exchange of ideas.
- The Art Gallery's two buildings, Naala Badu and Naala Nura, brings together art, architecture and landscape with seamless connections between indoor and outdoor galleries and spaces.
- Naala Badu is the most significant cultural development to open in Sydney in half a century and is a prominent new destination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture.
