Who is Katrina Sedgwick?
I’m the Director and CEO of ACMI (the Australian Centre for the Moving Image). ACMI is Australia’s national museum for film, television, video games, digital culture and art, and after only 14 years has become the third most visited Gallery or Museum site in the country and the most visited museum of the moving image in the world. I’m also a mother of two boys – we moved here to Melbourne with my husband so I could take on this role – and we are loving getting to know this new city.
What would you do differently to what you do now?
I’d try to slow down a bit… I like embracing new ideas and thinking with my team about how to leverage everything – which leads to lots of balls being juggled at once – it’s very stimulating but sometimes a change of pace would be good.
Who inspires you and why?
People who are courageous and care passionately about what they do – who think boldly and ambitiously – and then deliver wonderful art or experiences or ideas.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I think art and creative learning experience is so important to develop not only developing literacy in our community (critical, digital, media), and our future economy, but also to build resilient, confident young people who are prepared to experiment and take a risk.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
New York – the first international city that I spent significant time in as a young adult – and then honeymooned there with my husband. I love its intensity and diversity, and its cultural and intellectual confidence or sometimes arrogance. Its energizing.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
ACMI of course! It is such a great experience for people of all ages so it’s a bit of a no brainer – plus I like showing them where I work. And then the City Trail for a walk or bike ride – coming from East Brunswick it’s such a thrill to suddenly be cycling along the Yarra or Merri Creek in the bush – it’s a genuine surprise that Melbourne has this on offer so close to the centre of the city
What are you currently reading?
Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. I’ve come to it very late but am enjoying discovering it alongside my 13 year old son.
What are you currently listening to?
Anderson Paak’s album Malibu.
Happiness is?
Cooking and eating a delicious meal with my family and friends.
What does the future hold for you?
ACMI has just received $5m from the State Government to fund the design development stage of an ambitious renewal project that will see us reimagine our permanent exhibition, and to reconceive and reconfigure our whole museum to make ACMI a global destination that illuminates the past present and future of the moving image. If all goes to plan we should be unveiling it all in the next three years!
Katrina has been the Director and CEO of ACMI since early 2015. Previously, she was the Head of Arts for ABC TV and ABC Arts online from 2012 – 14, and from 2002 to 2011, as founding Director/CEO of the biennial Adelaide Film Festival, Katrina directed the AFF Investment Fund – which supported 47 Australian productions encompassing a multi-award-winning slate of features, documentaries, short films, cross-platform and installation works.
Katrina has an extensive background as a performer, creative producer and festival director. She was a producer for the Adelaide Festival of Arts (1996, 1998 and 2000) and the artistic director of Come Out ‘99 and Adelaide Fringe 2002. She is currently on the Board of Back to Back Theatre, was a member of the Creative Industries Taskforce and a board member of Chunky Move, the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, Art Gallery of SA, and Chair of the South Australian Youth Arts Board.
For more information about ACMI, visit: www.acmi.net.au for details.
Image: Katrina Sedgwick (supplied)