Recent leadership changes at key cultural organizations, including the appointment of Kim McKay AO as the new chair of The Council of Australasian Museum Directors (CAMD) and Jaroslava Prihodova as the new director of The New Gallery at Austin Peay State University, are setting the stage for new curatorial and strategic directions.
These appointments arrive at a pivotal moment for cultural institutions, which continue to navigate evolving audience expectations and define their roles within academic and public spheres. The stated priorities of the new directors, focusing on interdisciplinary engagement, research-based exhibitions, and sector-wide advocacy, offer an initial glimpse into the future of visual arts programming and the strategic emphasis these institutions may adopt. Their visions underscore a movement towards galleries and museums as active sites for dialogue, pedagogy, and community integration, rather than passive repositories of art.
What We Know So Far
- The Council of Australasian Museum Directors (CAMD) has appointed Kim McKay AO as its new chair, according to a statement from the Australian Museum.
- Kim McKay AO is the current Director and CEO of the Australian Museum and has served as the Deputy Chair of CAMD for the past two years.
- Jaroslava Prihodova has been selected as the next director of The New Gallery at Austin Peay State University, as reported by clarksvillenow.com.
- According to the report, Prihodova is a visual artist, designer, and curator with over a decade of experience in academic galleries and international cultural institutions.
- Prihodova's curatorial practice is described as being grounded in exhibition-making as a form of research and pedagogy.
- McKay has stated an aim to advocate for the museum sector and highlight the role museums play in communities and the economy.
