Karen Quinlan, Director National Portrait Gallery

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Karen Quinlan appointed Director, National Portrait Gallery of Australia

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Karen Quinlan, Director National Portrait Gallery

Karen Quinlan appointed Director, National Portrait Gallery of Australia

Tuesday September 25th, 2018

The Australian Government welcomes the announcement of the appointment of Ms Karen Quinlan as the incoming Director of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia (NPGA).

Ms Quinlan is highly regarded in Australia’s arts sector. As Director of the very successful Bendigo Art Gallery for the past eighteen years, she has established a reputation as a visionary leader, including through developing innovative international partnerships.

Ms Quinlan is also concurrently the Director and inaugural Professor of Practice at the La Trobe Art Institute within La Trobe University. This has allowed her to combine the strengths of both the Bendigo Art Gallery and the La Trobe Art Institute to enrich the arts offerings in regional Victoria.

Ms Quinlan’s commitment to the sector over several decades is shown through her current roles on the Boards of the Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, the National Gallery of Victoria, and the State Library of Victoria. She has also been the Chair and a board member of the Public Galleries Association of Victoria and a board member of the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival. Previously, Ms Quinlan was Curator at the Bendigo Art Gallery and prior to that, Curatorial Assistant at the National Gallery of Victoria.

The PGAV extends our congratulations to Karen and look forward to her work at NPGA!

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The Public Galleries Association of Victoria (PGAV) acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the lands where our office is located, and all Traditional Owners of country throughout Victoria and Australia. We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples enduring traditions and continuing creative cultures. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

We are an LGBTQIA+ friendly organisation and celebrate cultural diversity.