Photograph: Matthew Wren 2013
News from Heide that their current Director and CEO Jason Smith will step down from his position in November to take up the position of Curatorial Manager, Australian Art, at the Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA). Jason Smith joined Heide in 2008, before that he held positions at the Monash Gallery of Art and the National Gallery of Victoria. He has curated 40 major exhibitions including, for Heide, surveys of the works of Kathy Temin, Louise Bourgeois and Stephen Benwell. His other major exhibitions include surveys of the works of Howard Arkley, Peter Booth, Gwyn Hanssen Pigott, Susan Cohn and Rosslynd Piggott.
From Heide:
The Chair of Heide’s Board of Directors, Jennifer Darbyshire, said today:
‘Jason has led Heide through a period of significant change and has shown strong leadership in creating the inspiring, educational and thought provoking Museum that Heide is today.
He is highly regarded by Heide’s Board, team and volunteers as well as externally, and while sorry to see him leave at this time, we wish him every success as he pursues this exciting new opportunity.’
Of his move to QAGOMA Jason Smith said:
‘Under the direction of Chris Saines, the Queensland Art Gallery is poised to significantly expand its representation of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian art. I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with a highly esteemed group of Australian art curators – and indeed the whole QAGOMA team – on a vital new phase for Australian art at that institution. While leaving my beloved Heide will be very difficult personally, the extraordinary experience I have had here readies me for this next exciting phase of my career and the life of QAGOMA.’
‘I would like to pay tribute to my colleagues at Heide – together we have formed an exceptional team that has further enhanced Heide’s national reputation for artistic excellence and scholarship. I am also very grateful to the Heide Board for its leadership and support.’
The Board of Directors of Heide Museum of Modern Art will begin the recruitment process for a new director and CEO immediately.