Directors reappointed to State Government roles

The Directors of Newcastle’s museum and art gallery will continue to guide the future direction of the State’s cultural sector after being reappointed today for a second two-year term to the Create NSW Artform Advisory Boards.

Newcastle Museum Director Julie Baird and Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton were first appointed to the boards in 2019 in recognition of their leading industry knowledge and expertise.

Ms Baird and Ms Morton's reappointments are testament to their valuable contributions to City of Newcastle's significant cultural facilities, and the success they have achieved building on the reputation of these respected institutions both within the region and across Australia.

Ms Baird will continue to sit on the Museums and History Board while Ms Morton retains her position on the Visual Arts Advisory Board.

It has been a landmark year for both City of Newcastle Directors and the cultural institutions they lead.

Newcastle Museum's innovative social history exhibition, 1X4, which was curated from its own extensive collection, was named the overall winner at the 2021 Museums and Galleries National Awards (MAGNA) in June, while Ms Baird was also appointed as the Vice President of the National Council for the Australian Museums and Galleries Association Incorporated (AMaGA).

Newcastle Art Gallery's On Stillness exhibition was also highly commended at the MAGNAs, while four years of work culminated in May with the opening of WARWAR: The Art of Torres Strait, a landmark exhibition focusing on the artistic traditions of the Torres Strait Islander culture, which brought together more than 130 works including art never before seen outside of the Torres Strait.

There are 10 Artform Advisory Boards that assess applications to the State’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program, providing recommendations on the strategic directions of the sector to the NSW Minister for the Arts Don Harwin.