CONVENOR
Jane Clark
Jane Clark is Senior Research Curator at MONA - the Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart. Jane joined MONA—Australia’s largest private museum—in 2007, during the initial planning phase, having been Curator of Major Special Exhibitions in both international and Australian art at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, and then Deputy Chairman of Sotheby’s in Australia.
Since MONA opened in 2011, she has worked on all of the major exhibitions and publications as a key member of the core creative team led by owner, David Walsh. She helped develop and write for the museum’s unique interpretive ‘electronic label’ device—the MONA O. She is usually based in Melbourne.
PANELLISTS
Rebecca Coates
Rebecca Coates is the Director of Shepparton Art Museum (SAM). Located in regional Victoria, SAM is recognised for its significant collection of Australian ceramics, notable historic works, and a growing collection of outstanding contemporary Australian art by Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists. Rebecca is an established curator, writer and lecturer, with over 25 years professional art museum and gallery experience in both Australia and overseas. She has a PhD in Art History and was previously a Lecturer at the University of Melbourne in Art History and Art Curatorship, where she is an Honorary Fellow. She speaks and writes regularly on contemporary art and theory, curatorial practice, and art in the public realm, and sits on a number of advisory boards.
Dr Donald Edgar, OAM
Donald Edgar is a sociologist and educator. His is the author of many books and papers on Australian society, social policy and community life, including this new book Art for the Country: The story of Victoria’s regional art galleries. Don taught sociology at Stanford University, the University of Chicago, Monash University and La Trobe University, and was founding Director of the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Svetlana Karovich
Svetlana was the Director of Benalla Art Gallery from 1982 - 1988, during which time she developed its collection of contemporary Australia art and initiated a lively exhibition program for regional audiences. She was also a member of the Committee of Management of the then Ballarat based Regional Galleries Conservation Centre. From 1988 – 1992, Svetlana was Project Manager of the Australian Exhibitions Touring Agency (AETA), responsible for touring exhibitions to mainly regional galleries throughout Australia. In 1993 she established the art program at the Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre, developing exhibitions for hospital audiences, artists-in-residence and commissioning site specific artworks, a role she held for seven years. Presently, Svetlana is the Curator of the Peter Mac Art Collection which is owned by and displayed in the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Svetlana has a Bachelor of Art (Honours) from the University of Melbourne and a Graduate Diploma in Museum Studies from Prahran College of Advanced Education (now Deakin University).
Margaret Rich, OAM
Margaret Rich worked in regional galleries from 1975 to 2003. First as the Director of the Geelong Art Gallery (1975 – 1980) and then as Director of the Art Gallery of Ballarat (1980 – 2003). During that time she served on many Boards and Committees at a state and federal level, as well as the Board of the Regional Galleries Association of Victoria.
