Gallery calls out for new board members

DO you think you’ve got what it takes to help the Art Gallery of Ballarat thrive into the future?

Well, now’s your chance to help out as there’s positions open on the institution’s newly re-formed governance board.

While the Gallery is local in its physical presence, director Louise Tegart said the search to fill the seats would go beyond the city limits.

“We need people that are connected across the country, not just in Ballarat and Victoria,” she said.

“We’ve opened up the applications nationally. We are an organisation that works on a national level.”

Six volunteer positions, including the role of chair, are now available on the revamped board after two separate governance groups, the old board and the Art Gallery of Ballarat Foundation board, were merged into a single body.

In the past the old 12-person board was responsible for strategic oversight and governance of the gallery, why the foundation’s 10-member committee raised money.

“The Gallery has undergone a governance review over the last two years, which was a strategy that was identified in the strategic planning process about three years ago,” she said.

“It’s streamlining the role of director in terms of reporting but also when I arrived there was kind of a lack of cohesive strategic direction, because you’re just managing all these different groups, so to have less of those and more focus is going to be better for the gallery.”

Two more seats will also be made available on the new board, one for the City of Ballarat and the other the Gallery Association, however the latter will need to satisfy the qualification requirements Ms Tegart said.

As the Gallery’s key stakeholder, the City of Ballarat has a major say in the way the institution is run.

Spokesperson Cr Mark Harris said the changes reflect a push by the municipality to bring the institution closer to the City.

“In many respects we thought maybe 10 years ago to have the Gallery as a separate entity to give it better scope,” he said. “I’m not sure that was entirely successful.”

When it comes to the new board members, Cr Harris has a clear idea of who should be selected.

“I want to look around and only see people who know this industry backwards,” he said. “And I want them to have enough governance background, and have a focus in their mind, that they meet here to support Louise.”

Applications to join the board require responses to key selection criteria and a subsequent interview process. Visit the Gallery’s website for more information.