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Liz Nowell appointed Executive Director

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Liz Nowell, Credit Natalie Piserchio
Liz Nowell, incoming Executive Director Credit Natalie Piserchio

Arts Project Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Liz Nowell as its new Executive Director, effective 4 December.

Nowell will be succeeding Sue Roff, who has served the organisation for the last 14 years.

“The appointment of Liz Nowell on the eve of APA’s 50th anniversary signals an exciting new chapter for the organisation. Liz’s vision and ambition for APA will build on Sue Roff’s wonderful legacy and propel APA as we reach for new horizons. Liz is a highly respected and well-regarded cultural leader and this, along with her national and international experience will be an enormous benefit to APA’s extraordinary artists, our staff and the growth of our organisation as we bounce out of the COVID years.”

Virginia Lovett, President of Arts Project Australia

Liz has over 15 years of experience as a curator and cultural leader in Australian and international contemporary art. She has held leadership positions at Adelaide Contemporary Experimental (ACE), Contemporary Art Centre of South Australia, and most recently the Institute of Modern Art (IMA), where she was Executive Director from 2019 – 2022. She is passionate about creating inclusive and diverse spaces in the arts and is excited to contribute to the growth and success of Arts Project Australia.

“A decade ago, I had the privilege of collaborating with Arts Project Australia, and since then, I have closely followed their imaginative, rigorous, authentic and visionary work. For nearly fifty years, Arts Project’s has advocated for, worked alongside and supported the development of artists with intellectual disabilities, and it is hard to think of an organisation more cherished by the arts community. I am thrilled to build upon such an extraordinary legacy and lead with a strong and ambitious artistic vision that centres neurodiverse voices in contemporary art. I look forward to working closely with studio artists, their families, the dedicated team, Board and supporters in shaping this next chapter in Arts Project Australia’s story.”

Liz Nowell, incoming Executive Director

Liz has curated and commissioned several important exhibitions including Rainbow Serpent (Version): Daniel Boyd (IMA, Brisbane); The Violet Ballet: Sally Smart (Adelaide Festival for the Arts, ACE, Adelaide) Yhonnie Scarce: Missile Park (co-curator, IMA, Brisbane and Australia Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne); and Next Matriarch, co-curated with Kimberley Moulton (ACE, Adelaide and Koori Heritage Trust, Melbourne). Prior to working as an Executive Director, Liz held curatorial positions at the Brooklyn Museum, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, and Tandanya – National Aboriginal Cultural Institute. She is the recipient of a New Work Grant (Early Career), Early Career Residency Grant (both Creative Australia), a Dame Joan Sutherland Foundation Grant and in 2018 was recognised by InDaily as one of 40 under 40 business leaders in South Australia. She joins APA directly from her time as a resident at the International Studio and Curatorial Program, New York.

Arts Project Australia Board and Staff are delighted to welcome Liz and look forward to working with her.

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