Annual Report 2016-17

CHAIR'S OVERVIEW

Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees Annual Report 2016–17 07

On behalf of the Board, President Tim Fairfax

and

members of the QAGOMA Foundation Committee, and the

Gallery’s Executive Management Team, I extend sincere

appreciation to all those who have so generously supported

the Gallery this year.

The passing in April of Win Schubert

saw the Gallery and

the broader arts community lose not only an Officer of the

Order of Australia, but also a Queensland Great, a Gallery

Medallist, a passionate philanthropist and a dear friend. I also

acknowledge the passing in November 2016 of Emeritus

Professor John Hay

. Professor Hay provided leadership

and passionate advocacy for the Gallery during his five years

as chair from 2008 to 2012, and he will be greatly missed in

the many sectors of the community where he made such a

positive difference.

The Gallery has benefited from the continued support of

the Queensland Government, particularly the Premier of

Queensland and Minister for the Arts, who made possible

the Government’s renewed investment in blockbuster and

major exhibitions at QAGOMA for the period 2016–20. I also

thank Dave Stewart, Director-General, Department of Premier

and Cabinet, Kirsten Herring, Deputy Director-General, Arts

Queensland, and their staff, for their strategic advocacy and

Left to right: Chris Saines

CNZM,

Director, QAGOMA; Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company Australia & New Zealand;

The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

MP,

Premier of Queensland and Minister for the Arts; and Professor Ian O’Connor

AC,

Chair, Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees, at the official opening of

‘Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe’, GOMA, 26 May 2017 / Photograph: Natasha Harth

support in securing this funding. The Gallery has a valued

relationship with the Department of Tourism and Major

Events, and I thank The Honourable Kate Jones

MP,

Minister

for Education and Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the

Commonwealth Games; Tourism and Events Queensland Chair

Bob East and CEO Leanne Coddington; and outgoing CEO of

Brisbane Marketing John Aitken, for their contributions to the

success of the Gallery in 2016–17.

I acknowledge and thank my fellow Trustees: Deputy Chair

Rick Wilkinson, Gina Fairfax, Fiona Foley, The Honourable John

Mickel, Liz Pidgeon and Paul Taylor. As a new Board appointed

by the Governor-in-Council in March 2017, we were privileged

to pick up the reins from outgoing Chair Professor Sue Street

and her fellow retiring Trustees: Philip Bacon

, Avril Quaill

and Ross Patane. I acknowledge their achievements and also

congratulate Director Chris Saines

CNZM

and the Gallery’s

staff for executing such a successful and vibrant program that

sought, as it does every year, to inspire and cater for everyone

in our diverse community. Finally, having artists collaborate

with the Gallery and interact with our audiences is integral

to the Gallery’s success, and I gratefully acknowledge all the

artists who contributed to this year’s program.