BRISBANE.- After a national search, Brisbane-born and based Renai Grace has been appointed as the new Director of Museum of Brisbane. Ms Grace brings over 20 years experience in a wide variety of cultural sector and creative industry endeavours to the role.

Ms Grace has spent the past two decades working within some of the state’s leading cultural institutions including Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art and Artisan. She has most recently served as Director of Investment and Development at Arts Queensland.

Museum of Brisbane, located on the rooftop of the iconic City Hall, explores the history and identity of Brisbane through a combination of social history and visual art. Since relaunching in 2013 in this new space, the Museum has won multiple awards for its changing program of exhibitions and events which have attracted more than 1 million visitors.

Museum of Brisbane Board Chairman Sallyanne Atkinson AO said Ms Grace’s appointment will continue the Museum’s vital role in celebrating Brisbane’s history and culture.

“Renai’s extensive and impressive experience in the arts and cultural sector, coupled with her business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit, makes her the perfect person to lead the Museum into the future.”

Ms Grace said she was thrilled by the exciting opportunity at Museum of Brisbane. “As a cultural institution, the Museum has such importance to the Brisbane community along with visitors and tourists to the region, as a leader in communicating the rich historical and artistic aspects of our city.

I am looking forward to working with the Museum team to create new opportunities that will engage new audiences. This is an exceptional opportunity to ensure the Museum is the City’s most exciting cultural destinations.”

Ms Grace has championed and supported the work of many of Brisbane’s artists. She co-founded Spiro Grace Art Rooms (SGAR) a commercial art gallery and a dynamic strategic arts consultancy which has overseen the management of corporate art collections and commissioning of significant public artworks across Australia including Danie Mellor’s recent art commission for 480 Queen Street Brisbane.

Ms Grace will commence in the role on 15 November 2016. Her appointment follows the departure of long-term Director Peter Denham. Leading the Museum since 2006, Mr Denham has recently relocated to Sydney to take up the position of Director of Director Curatorial, Collections & Exhibitions at the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences.