Reconciliation Action Plan

16 Our People QAGOMA is governed by the Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees and guided by the Queensland Art Gallery Act 1987 , the objective of which is to ‘contribute to the cultural, social and intellectual development of all Queenslanders’. With endorsement from the Minister for Communities and Housing, Minister for Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Leeanne Enoch MP, the Gallery aims to ensure a position on the Board is filled by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander representative. Notable appointments of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to the Board of Trustees have included Ron Hurley, Brian Robinson, Craig Koomeeta, Avril Quaill, David Williams, Fiona Foley and Bianca Beetson. We are also committed to the Queensland Government’s objectives for the community outlined in the document Our Future State: Advancing Queensland’s Priorities. The Gallery’s first Indigenous Australian curator was Margo Neale, who was incumbent from 1995 to 2000. Over subsequent years, leading Aboriginal curatorial staff have included Avril Quaill (2001–05) and Bruce Johnson McLean (2002–19). The Gallery is also indebted to Aunty Joan Collins, former Indigenous Liaison and Administration Officer (1994–2015). Currently, QAGOMA employs 330 full-time equivalent staff across its five portfolios, including four employees who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is 1.2 per cent of the workforce, a figure the Gallery aims to increase over the course of this plan. Since 2019, the Gallery's Indigenous Australian Art curatorial team has been led by Katina Davidson. Banumbirr (Morning Star) poles, celebrating the creator–spirit of the Yolngu culture, by artists from Galiwin’ku (Elcho Island), installed here for ‘Lucent’, GOMA / Photograph: Natasha Harth / © The artists/Copyright Agency, 2022 Segar Passi, Meriam Mir/Dauareb peoples / Waier; Dauar 2015; 2014–2015 / Purchased 2015 with funds from Anne Best through the QAGOMA Foundation / © Segar Passi Collection Since the 1947 acquisition of a watercolour by Arrernte artist Albert Namatjira, the number of works in the Collection by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists has grown to more than 2500. Though these works have originated from across the country, the Gallery’s particular focus is on the rich diversity of cultures and experiences evident in works from Queensland. In 2020–21, 152 works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists entered the Collection, valued at over $1.17m. They represent more than a quarter of the Gallery’s acquisitions for that financial year. Recent acquisition highlights include a complete set of ‘Utopia Suite’ woodblock prints created by Alyawarr and Anmatyerre artists during seminal workshops in 1990; and a significant gift of 66 early bark paintings representative of the regional styles of painting across Arnhem Land and northern Australia in the 1950s and 60s. OVER 2500 WORKS IN THE GALLERY’S INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN ART COLLECTION COMPRISE 13% OF THE TOTAL QAGOMA COLLECTION 16% OF QUEENSLAND ARTISTS IN THE COLLECTION IDENTIFY AS ABORIGINAL AND/OR TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLES IN 2020–21, THE GALLERYMADE 152 ACQUISITIONS OF INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN ART, WITH A TOTAL VALUE OF OVER $1.17M Ken Thaiday Sr , Meriam Mir people / Beizam headdress (Shark with bait fish) 1995 / Purchased 1995. QAG Foundation / © Ken Thaiday Sr