Currently logged in. Logout
Tamara Winikoff in 2017 in the One Year Studio Artist Tom Polo’s Artspace studio. Photograph: Maja Baska
After 22 years, Tamara Winikoff OAM has announced her resignation as Executive Director of the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA), the peak national body protecting and promoting the Australian visual arts sector.
“Looking back over the years, I feel tremendously proud of what our small, committed, expert organisation has achieved on behalf of Australian arts and artists. It has been a joy and a privilege to support the brilliant work of Australia’s cultural creators and the essential contribution they make to articulating the things that matter with such skill and potency”, reflects Winikoff. “As an arts activist and campaigner I have had to navigate some fascinating challenges because the environment for the arts in Australia is very volatile. But that is what has kept me addicted for so long,” Winikoff continued. “Now I’m looking forward to doing some independent consultancy work.”
Some of the highlights of Winikoff’s achievement at NAVA have been: securing 15 years of substantial increase in government funding for the whole sector as a result of the Myer Inquiry which continues to the present; development of the Code of Practice which sets best practice standards for the visual arts industry; being the founder of the Australian Design Alliance and co-founder and co-convenor of Artspeak, (the confederation of national peak arts organisations); leading the push for the introduction of the Artists Resale Royalty and Artists Moral Rights; with NAAE securing the mandating of visual arts in the national curriculum for schools; and launching a 30 year vision document, the ‘National Agenda for the Visual Arts’ at NAVA’s 30th anniversary celebration event at Parliament House in Canberra.
With her role as Executive Director drawing to an end on 30 June 2017, NAVA are conducting a national recruitment campaign for Winikoff’s replacement.
“I look forward to seeing where the energy and drive of NAVA will take it in the future. There is always so much to do and I am sure my successor will enjoy great rewards and satisfaction in leading the organisation into the next exciting phase of its development.” – Tamara Winikoff OAM
