The National Gallery of Australia has announced that Nick Mitzevich has been appointed as its new Director, replacing Gerard Vaughan AM, who will conclude his term on 1 July 2018.
Mr Mitzevich joins the NGA from the Art Gallery of South Australia, where he has lead many initiatives as the gallery’s director since 2010, including a diverse artistic program, significant attendance growth, the revitalisation of the building and its displays and the expansion of community engagement.
He has contributed significantly to Australia’s museum and art gallery sector for over twenty years, and as a gallery director since 2001, bringing to the NGA his experience in collection development, building philanthropic support, public programming and change management and in curating contemporary international and Australian art exhibitions and displays.
Prior to his role in Adelaide, he was the director of the University of Queensland Art Museum in Brisbane, a position he held for three and half years. His strategic direction there resulted in major innovative change for the museum, which enhanced its national profile, provided significant increases in visitor numbers and developed strong philanthropic support. He was recognised for his achievements there when he received the Museum and Gallery Services Queensland Outstanding Achievement Award in 2009.
His first role as a gallery director was at the Newcastle Region Art Gallery in New South Wales, where he transformed the gallery in the areas of community engagement, programming, marketing and collection development, particularly in contemporary Australian art.
He has various other roles in the arts sector, including as the coordinator of the artist-run space 249 Gallery in Newcastle in the early 1990s. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art and Graduate Diplomas in Education and Fine Art from the University of Newcastle.
Mitzevich has curated notable exhibitions such as the Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Dark Heart at the Art Gallery of South Australia in 2014, AES+F: the revolution starts now! at the UQ Art Museum in 2010, the touring exhibition Strange cargo: contemporary art as a state of encounter in 2006 and Auto fetish: the mechanics of desire at Newcastle Region Art Gallery in 2004.
He was also invited in 2016 to participate in the Global Museum Leaders Colloquium at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, a unique opportunity for the world’s museum leaders to exchange of ideas and expertise. In his previous directorial roles he particularly known for his bold transformation of audiences through education programs and community engagement.
Commencing 2 July 2018, Mr Mitzevich will be the sixth director in the NGA’s history, following James Mollison AO, Betty Churcher AO, Brian Kennedy, Ron Radford AM and incumbent Gerard Vaughan AM.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Gerard Vaughan, who will conclude his term as Director on 1 July 2018,” said Allan Myers, Chairman NGA. “Gerard has brought particular focus to the permanent collection during his time as Director, overseeing a major rehang of the galleries which has reinvigorated the visitor experience.”
“Along with regular gallery changeovers, there has been growth in visitor numbers and the NGA’s outstanding collection has been loaned extensively. The Council wishes Gerard well in his retirement.”
For more information about the National Gallery of Australia, visit: www.nga.gov.au for details.
Image: Nick Mitzevich – photo by Sven Kovac