Vale Kitty Ginter
Vale Kitty Ginter
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Kitty Ginter, one of APA’s founding members, a Life Member, and a lifelong supporter of the APA community.
Kitty was instrumental in establishing APA, helping shape the values and philosophy that continue to guide our organisation today. Her generosity, and deep belief in the creative potential and autonomy of every artist left an enduring legacy that can still be felt throughout the studio.
A trained psychologist and fine Arts student, Kitty first met APA founder Myra Hilgendorf through her clinical work with Myra’s daughter, Johanna, one of Arts Project’s founding artists. Together with Myra Hilgendorf and Cliff Judge, Kitty was part of the original establishment of the organisation and became a central figure in its early development.
As former APA Director Dr Cheryl Daye reflected in Arts Project Australia: 50 Years:
“Every day was an adventure. The inspirational ideas of Kitty Ginter formed the core dynamic of how things happened in the studio.”
Her commitment to egalitarianism, personal dignity, and the importance of both mental and physical space was transformative, and formed the foundations of the philosophical framework of APA.
Cheryl Daye and Kitty Ginter reflected on their early years together at APA, saying:
“The respect of each person’s artistic autonomy created an environment where people were given an unprecedented freedom to engage in an activity over which they had complete control.” (A Sense of Place, 2003)
These ideas were fundamental to APA’s approach and remain central to our work today.
Kitty volunteered with Arts Project for many years and remained connected to the organisation well into the 2010s. She was deeply loved by artists and staff alike. She had a gentle and kind demeanour, a sharp sense of humour, and treated everyone with dignity and respect. Many artists featured Kitty in their work, and she was particularly adored and immortalised in portrait artworks by the late Dorothy Berry.
Reflecting on Kitty, some of our artists shared heartfelt memories – “She was good” said Miles Howard-Wilks. Rebecca Scibilia remembered her as being “really nice to chat to”, and Chris Mason shared that she was “friendly and helpful”.
Kitty’s influence at APA extends far beyond her years of service. Her belief in artistic freedom, equality and human dignity helped create an environment in which generations of artists have been able to flourish.
We extend our deepest condolences to Kitty’s family, friends and all those whose lives she touched.
Vale, Kitty, and thank you for everything you gave to the APA community.
