GALLERY DIRECTOR LEAVING AFTER 20 YEARS’ SERVICE

Arts Minister Rod Welford today paid tribute to the Queensland Art Gallery’s Doug Hall, who is leaving the Gallery after 20 years as its Director.

Mr Welford said Mr Hall would leave the position in April 2007 after guiding the transition of the Gallery to a two-site institution incorporating the new Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA).

“While I’m saddened that Doug will be leaving after such a long period of service, I am pleased that he has decided to stay on for the next few months to oversee the opening of GoMA and the 5^th Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art,” Mr Welford said.

“Doug has played a major role in the development of GoMA and the hugely popular Asia-Pacific Triennials which have put our Gallery on the international map.

“It’s great that he will stay on board as the Director during the opening few months of GoMA and APT5.

“Doug has steered the Gallery through a period of great change and I commend him for the wonderful job he has done opening the Gallery up to new audiences.

“Under his Directorship, the Gallery has developed a strong engagement with Asia, especially through the APT which was established in 1993.”

Mr Hall was appointed Director of the Queensland Art Gallery in 1987 following a decade as director of two Victorian regional galleries.

He has served on a range of State and Federal cultural organisations and was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in June 2001.

Mr Hall will leave to take on other interests both here and in Asia.

“I’ve been a gallery director for exactly 30 years – since I was 22 years of age,” Mr Hall said.

“I hold an immense gratitude to those who have supported me personally and professionally over my career as director.

“I now intend to remain busy with other interests for another 20 years.”

The new Gallery of Modern Art and 5^th Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art open to the public on 2 December.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985