Voting has closed for the AMaGA Western Australia Committee Election. Results will be announced at the AMaGA Western Australia Annual Meeting on Wednesday, 7 July, held virtually.
Nominees
Rikki Clarke
Director
Creative Spaces
What skills, ideas or connections do you think you can contribute to the AMaGA Western Australia Committee?
I would bring my skills and experience in running a business within the cultural sector to the committee. With this experience comes a perspective from someone not working for one cultural organisation, but many. My creative skills can also be utilised for not only design but problem solving as well.
What opportunities or challenges do you see for collecting organisations in Western Australia or AMaGA WA that you would like to act on?
Now is the time to demonstrate our value to the broader community. We need to let people know how the cultural sector supports the community’s wellbeing and it’s vital that the sector and it’s workers are supported.
Louella Hayes
Fundraising Manager
Art Gallery of Western Australia
What skills, ideas or connections do you think you can contribute to the AMaGA Western Australia Committee?
A passionate advocate for the arts and cultural sector in WA, my exciting and diverse career has led me to work in senior roles with a variety of arts organizations, including the Art Gallery of WA (current role since April 2021), Perth Festival, Sculpture by the Sea, and Mundaring / Midland Community Arts Centre’s. Currently in the final stages of a Master of Business specializing in Arts and Cultural Management, I am eager to give back to the WA arts community in any way that I can; to collaborate with likeminded people; and to contribute my unique skillset to achieving the goals of an organisation at the forefront of arts and museum advocacy in WA, that I esteem so highly as AMaGA. I have over 8 years experience in fundraising, exhibitions and events management within the Australian cultural sector. I am a freelance arts writer for visual art magazines and independent creative projects, and have been a regular editorial contributor to national visual arts magazine Artist Profile since the beginning of 2017. I have experience in strategic community alignments and development, and am passionate about governance in the arts, across a variety of organisation types and structures. My previous Committee experience has been for the Exhibitions Committee and Marketing Committee at Mundaring / Midland Art Centre’s. My goals as a member of the AMaGA WA Committee include building and developing stronger professional networks for the WA arts community, contributing to the professional development of others in the sector, and bringing enthusiasm to the Committee.
What opportunities or challenges do you see for collecting organisations in Western Australia or AMaGA WA that you would like to act on?
The arts face a host of sector-specific challenges, such as funding, staff retention and opportunities for career growth and development within a niche field. My goals as a member of the AMaGA WA Committee, as mentioned above, are to build and develop stronger professional networks for the WA arts community, and contribute to the professional development of others in the sector.
Marani Greatorex
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Project Officer
WA Museum Boola Bardip
What skills, ideas or connections do you think you can contribute to the AMaGA Western Australia Committee?
My name is Marani Greatorex, and I’m a proud Jabirr Jabirr, Nyikina woman from Broome, Kimberley country. I am currently working at the WA Museum Boola Bardip in Perth, in my role as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Project Officer. I’m tremendously passionate about the culture and arts sector, and the opportunities it can give to Aboriginal and Torres Islander peoples and communities to have a voice within Museum and Gallery spaces. I am therefore interested in nominating myself to join the AMaGA WA Committee. In my role as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Project Officer at the WA Museum, I provide project and administration support to the WA Museum and the Senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisor and its various regional and metropolitan sites on a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander matters. This includes assisting with the development of programs and content with an ATSI focus, providing project support, preparing correspondence, reports and other project relevant documents, and assisting with the delivery and reporting of the Museum’s next Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, along with providing support to the WA Museum’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee. My passion for the culture and arts sector is driven towards the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices within Museum and Gallery spaces through engagement, employment and enabling safe spaces for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities to share their culture, stories and deeply rooted knowledge. I believe this allows for non-Aboriginal peoples to gain a greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders culture and history. My long-term goals are focused around how Museum and Galleries can improve on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment, working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities to continue to enable the continuation of sharing knowledge and culture.
What opportunities or challenges do you see for collecting organisations in Western Australia or AMaGA WA that you would like to act on?
I believe there are many opportunities for museums, galleries and cultural workers in Western Australia to improve engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, two focuses being the development of Reconciliation Action Plans and reflecting on the First People’s: A Roadmap for Enhancing Engagement in Museums and Galleries that engage with Aboriginal peoples, with addition to more inclusion of cultural awareness competency training within workplaces.
Isaak Karagoglou
Front of House Manager
Perth Theatre Trust
What skills, ideas or connections do you think you can contribute to the AMaGA Western Australia Committee?
I am a passionate and driven emerging arts professional who wants to be part of delivering good governance for the museum and galleries sector in WA and help drive positive change. I am invested in acknowledging and sharing important stories, providing platforms for young people to pursue fulfilling careers in the sector, and engaging more diverse audiences. I have experience across the visual and performing arts sector in the areas of programming, communications, marketing, organisational development, operations, exhibition installation and front of house. I have worked in both metropolitan and regional contexts in the not-for-profit and local government sectors. In my most recent role as Programming Coordinator at the Goldfields Arts Centre working for the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder achievements include developing and implementing a diverse multi-year program of performing and visual arts, delivering a gallery upgrade as part of DLGSC and ART ON THE MOVE’S Public Regional Galleries Relief Fund, attaining In The House multi-year expanded program funding from DLGSC, implementing a new ticketing system, audience feedback and consultation platforms. My main goal is to continue to add to my diverse professional experience by joining a board or committee. I have well developed communication and interpersonal skills as my work at the Goldfields Arts Centre required both the formation of new relationships and the consolidation of previous stakeholder relationships across the state and national arts sector. As Programming Coordinator I was required to communicate in a range of mediums and have strong working relationships across the local government structure. The successful delivery of an annual program depended on ongoing productive relationships with individuals employed within the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, DLGSC, touring organisations, flagship companies and commercial promoters. I have also demonstrated strong organisational skills in planning, problem solving, time management and daily operations. In my role as Programming Coordinator I was responsible for the planning and delivery of a diverse program of visual and performing arts. Such responsibilities required careful planning from inception to operational delivery including the preparing of proposals, accurate financial projections and post show reporting and evaluation. All arts programming was heavily contingent on specified timeframes and the nature of the regulated local government sector required me to complete timely reporting to presenting partners, funding bodies and state government departments.
What opportunities or challenges do you see for collecting organisations in Western Australia or AMaGA WA that you would like to act on?
The opportunities for the sector are immense. The evidence that illustrates how popular museum and galleries are for tourists and visitors is there, as well as the flow on social and economic benefits for the communities in which they exist. There is immense opportunity to use this to attract further support and investment for the sector and amplify and grow these impacts in a sustainable long term way. A key challenge I see for museum and galleries is a lack of support and resources that would allow them to plan for the future and achieve long term goals. As a result their ability to attract, train and retain cultural workers and provide career pathways for young people and emerging professionals is inhibited.
Curtis Mckinkey
Volunteer
WA Museum
What skills, ideas or connections do you think you can contribute to the AMaGA Western Australia Committee?
I wish to join the AMAGA committee because I have extensive background in museums and history. I have volunteered with several local museum like Armadale History House and the Museum of Perth and also have being a gallery volunteer at WA museum and attended 3 AMAGA national conferences.
What opportunities or challenges do you see for collecting organisations in Western Australia or AMaGA WA that you would like to act on?
I would like to ensure that the museum sector encourages truth telling and creativity.
Alexandra Moir
PhD Student/Conservation Contractor
Curtin University/The National Trust
What skills, ideas or connections do you think you can contribute to the AMaGA Western Australia Committee?
I am passionate about promoting our incredible collections in new, creative, and engaging ways. I am particularly interested in the conservation, preservation, and care of our collections- both big and small. Through working closely with Rail Heritage WA, Revolutions Museum, The National Trust, and the City of Armadale, I have gained experience in a diverse range of collections, both at a Local and State Government level. I have also developed a broad network of colleagues in Australia, including most recently at International Conservation Services in Sydney. I am also an active member of AICCM, the National Trust, and the Australasian Corrosion Association. I am currently undertaking PhD research at Curtin University into the conservation of metal objects in museums and collecting institutions. Prior to this, I completed a Masters degree at ANU in Art History + Curatorial Studies, Museums + Heritage. As many of our WA collections hold incredible metal objects, my aim is to assist and advise organisations in the best strategies to adopt for preserving and displaying these objects for future generations. Alongside my studies, I am working as a freelance consultant in the museum & heritage sector. I have undertaken a variety of projects including collection reviews, significance assessments, interpretation and exhibition plans, collection packing, conservation cleaning, corrosion mitigation, and providing object handling & conservation cleaning training workshops aimed at upskilling those who wish to learn more. As an avid traveller (pre-covid!) I have been fortunate enough to visit many wonderful museums and galleries in the UK, Western Europe, Nigeria and Russia. This has allowed me to see the potential any collection has. For example, The State Railway Museum in St Petersburg and the National Railway Museum in York are clear examples of what a railway museum can and should be. They make these big bulky objects exciting and engaging not only for rail enthusiasts but also for young children and the general public. Everyone has a voice and is passionate about their collection, and I would love the opportunity to be a part of the AMaGA committee, and to assist in the further promotion of all WA collections. As an emerging professional in the field, my goals are to represent all who work and are trying to establish a career in the heritage sector. I am a strong advocate for creating more opportunities for the next generation, as well as all those who share my passion for saving and acknowledging our heritage.
What opportunities or challenges do you see for collecting organisations in Western Australia or AMaGA WA that you would like to act on?
One of the key challenges I see for many collecting institutions is a lack of volunteers within a working age bracket in an increasingly time poor society. People do not have the time, and often it seems museums are not prioritised above other leisure activities (do people volunteer at a museum or should they go to the footy on the weekend?) I think a massive opportunity to tackle this is to engage more with university and tafe students, who have time and are looking to gain experience. Museums should be viewed as environments where people can learn new skills and gain something from volunteering, whether that be a skill or simply comradery and networking. This would be particularly relevant with skills such as woodworking (i.e. coach builders) where there are few experts in Perth. We need to nurture new talent here so that the skills remain in Western Australia, and we are not reliant on experts from the Eastern States.
Erica Persak
Collection Management
Kerry Stokes Collection
What skills, ideas or connections do you think you can contribute to the AMaGA Western Australia Committee?
My knowledge and experience in the areas of collections management and museology.
What opportunities or challenges do you see for collecting organisations in Western Australia or AMaGA WA that you would like to act on?
A major challenge is funding for on-going operations and special projects and training to meet the demands placed on cultural workers in WA.
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