Writer and cultural advocate, Esther Anatolitis has been appointed to the council of the National Gallery of Australia by Federal Arts Minister, Tony Burke.
Anatolitis is the former executive director of the National Association for the Visual Arts and has served on a multitude of boards, led art policy projects and contributed to the creation of new precincts, like Melbourne’s Collingwood Yards.
Anatolitis’ appointment comes as the National Gallery’s Council celebrates forty years of governance. Taking to Twitter this morning, she said she was “greatly honoured” by the appointment.
So greatly honoured to be joining the @NatGalleryAus Governing Council as we celebrate 40 years today – here’s to the next 40!
— Esther Anatolitis (@_esther) October 11, 2022
I’m also particularly proud of this image caption – my parents will be so chuffed when I post the printed copy to Greece (they’re very much not online). https://t.co/wkFmij3eHk pic.twitter.com/l9PKtqR4od
Speaking with The Australian Financial Review, Anatolitis said: “We just had the pandemic, which for most people was the most significant cultural disruption of our time, and we’ve seen just how little support and attention and focus artists were given.”
“When we had health experts saying that we needed to think creatively in order to get out of the crisis, that we couldn’t do the things we’ve done before,” she said.
“This is precisely the time when Australia and the world needs our most creative and critical voices.”
The creative industry veteran said she looks forward to working in her new role and being a part of the post-pandemic recovery efforts that national cultural institutions are currently undertaking.
READ MORE: Esther Anatolitis: ‘A range of government decisions have deprioritised our culture‘
SOURCE: Financial Review
