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JULIE LOMAX APPOINTED AS NEW DIRECTOR, VISUAL ARTS

The Australia Council for the Arts today announced the appointment of Julie Lomax as its new Director, Visual Arts.

Currently the Director of Visual Arts, London Region, for the Arts Council England, Julie will commence in her new role in February 2012. As Director, Visual Arts, Julie will be responsible for providing leadership to the Australia Council’s Visual Arts section and will be the senior advisor to its Visual Arts Board, implementing its decisions and providing key links between the Australia Council and the Visual Arts sector.

“I am looking forward to joining my new colleagues at the Australia Council for the Arts,” said Julie “It will be a privilege to work with artists and arts organisations in Australia’s dynamic and vibrant visual arts sector and I hope the knowledge and contacts I can bring will foster new partnerships and enhance Australia’s already prominent position on the international art scene.”

Julie, who originally trained as an artist at Chelsea School of Art, has over 10 years experience in arts management. Nominated as one of the 30 most powerful people in the art world on The Times’ Art Power list 2010, Julie is also a panel member for the Fourth Plinth Commission in Trafalgar Square, Olympic Park art commissions, and is a steering group member for Art on the Underground.

“I am delighted Julie has accepted the role as Director, Visual Arts,” said Kathy Keele, CEO, Australia Council. “Her experience as a practitioner, advocate, creative producer, and most recently as one of the UK’s leading arts managers and administrators, will be of significant value to the Australia Council’s Visual Arts program to support the sector.”

Professor Ted Snell AM, Chair, Visual Arts Board commented: “Julie brings a wealth of experience from undertaking a similar role with the Arts Council England and comes with a commitment to engage collaboratively with the robust and exciting Australian visual arts sector.

“She is keen to collaborate with colleagues within the Australia Council, and more broadly in the sector, to learn more and to understand the particular conditions of practice for the arts that have shaped the work of Australian artists and the structures that support them. This will be an exciting period in which we will all learn a great deal. Her arrival coincides with a challenging period for the sector where her fresh eyes, deep commitment and solid base of expertise will be invaluable.”

Julie takes over from Kon Gouriotis OAM who has been in the role for the past three years, during which time he led the Visual Arts Board’s evaluation of the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy program and a review of its multi-year funded Key Organisations. Kon leaves the Australia Council at the end of November 2011 to take up the position of Director of the Australian Centre of Photography (ACP).