2 days ago
Maud Page finds her muse, two months into leading Art Gallery of NSW
Two months into one of the most prized jobs in art, Maud Page has found a muse in the world of politics.
"I really want the urgency, almost, of a politician," Ms Page told the ABC.
The state's parliament is almost in sight of the institution she has been chosen to lead, the Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW).
While some of her predecessors have enjoyed decades-long tenures (Edmund Capon held the top job for 33 years), the gallery's new director is determined not to waste a moment.
"I really want to say, 'I've got three years to really make a difference'," she said.
"I know that the first few years, even the first couple of weeks and months are really, really crucial in setting the flavour and setting the ambition."
Ms Page is the 10th permanent director of the gallery since it was founded in the late 19th century.
She is also the first woman at the helm.
"But I am really pleased that there has been a shift."
As rare as the appointment of a woman, is the promotion of an existing employee to lead the organisation.
Ms Page joined AGNSW as deputy director in 2017, working under Michael Brand, who decided to step down late last year.
"There is a ceiling to the deputy director [role] and usually deputy directors do not get director jobs," Ms Page said.
Recruiters searched the globe for Dr Brand's replacement for a fee of up to $154,000, but ultimately his deputy was deemed the best person for the $509,000-a-year job.
"The diamond is shinier outside, so I'm really, really pleased that on this occasion the committee chose to look from within," Ms Page said.
Ms Page's political skills have been put to the test early in her tenure amid rumblings of tension at the gallery.
According to a report in the Australian Financial Review, two senior executives were believed to have resigned within a fortnight of Ms Page's promotion.
The newspaper, citing "sources close to the gallery", reported that a "rift" had emerged in the institution.
When ABC's Stateline put the claims to Ms Page, she did not deny the reports but, with the deft communication skills of a politician, explained that change was natural.
"A creative environment is one where there's strong discussions," Ms Page said.
The new director was unafraid to weigh in on a recent controversy in the art world — the dumping of artist Khaled Sabsabi as Australia's representative at the 2026 Venice Biennale.
The Coalition raised concerns in federal parliament in February that some of his old work had glorified terrorism, a representation the artist said was false.
Within hours, Sabsabi was dropped by Creative Australia, which said his selection posed an "unacceptable risk to public support for Australia's artistic community".
Ms Page wouldn't say whether she thought the decision undermined artistic freedom, but she did heap praise on the artist.
"What I can say is that Khaled Sabsabi is an extraordinary artist, and a very thoughtful one, and a very senior artist and very respected," she said.
"Everyone has an opinion about art, so there's interference with art all the time. And so I think it's up to us as institutions and as leaders to make sure we navigate that carefully."
As for the stamp Ms Page wants to leave on the gallery, she plans to increase the focus on First Nations art, which she said is Australia's "point of difference when the world looks at us".
"Unfortunately, they don't look at all our array of amazing artists, but they do look at the Indigenous because that's never been seen before."
She also plans to ramp up children's programming in a bid to make the gallery feel like a "second home" for everyone.
"I want to make sure that on every single floor there's something for families to do and that it's intergenerational and really exciting when you walk through these doors.
"I want you to feel it, that it's palpable, that you've got something for you, and that you feel absolutely welcome."
