MELBOURNE.- ACCA Chair John Denton announced today the appointment of Claire Richardson as the new Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.

Currently managing the Visual Arts Program at the City of Stonnington, Claire was formerly Exhibitions Manager at TarraWarra Museum of Art, with previous roles including Senior Exhibition Coordinator and acting Exhibitions Manager at the National Gallery of Victoria. Most recently, Claire was seconded to the Australia Council as an Exhibition Team Leader at the Australian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

“Claire has great passion and an excellent knowledge of the Australian visual arts sector, with extensive experience in the administrative, financial, exhibition management and team-leadership aspects of arts management”, John Denton said.

“Her passion for the visual arts and her excellent track-record are sought-after attributes, and we very much look forward to welcoming her to ACCA when she takes up the role in October,” he said.

Claire replaces Executive Director Linda Mickleborough, who concluded her role at ACCA in April to take up consultancy work and undertake a period of extensive travel.

Max Delany, Artistic Director/CEO of ACCA, said, “Claire has outstanding experience delivering major international and national exhibitions and advancing operational and organisational goals. An exceptional team leader and collaborator, with enviable experience at all levels of institutional management, we look forward to her joining the Executive team at ACCA”.

“Claire takes the managerial helm as we work towards expanding our impact in artistic programming, education and community engagement, and continuing the vital role ACCA plays within Australia’s visual arts ecology, particularly as a leading producer of art, ideas and conversations about the important subjects of our time,” he said.

“I would also like to acknowledge and thank our interim Executive Director Sarah Greentree for the exceptional work she has done in progressing ACCA’s strategic objectives and operations following the departure of Linda Mickleborough in April,” Max said.

Claire Richardson studied a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts Curatorship at the University of Melbourne. Amongst many achievements, she has managed significant collection activities and exhibition programs the National Gallery of Victoria and Tarrawarra Museum of Art, and overseen the public art program for the City of Stonnington.

Of her new appointment Claire said: “It is a true privilege to be appointed to the position of Executive Director at ACCA, an incredible, integral part of the Melbourne arts community, renowned both nationally and internationally as a dynamic platform for contemporary art and ideas. I have long appreciated and admired ACCA’s innovation, exceptional exhibition and educational programming and unwavering support of artists, curators, arts administrators and enthusiasts.”

“I very much look forward to working with Max Delany, the Board, the staff and the wider ACCA community to advance its strategic vision, whilst continuing the incredible work for which ACCA is renowned. Having spent much of my arts career in Melbourne, I also look forward to the opportunity to work alongside our neighbours to further develop the precinct as an exciting cultural destination for all.”