4jj> A U~ IAL! A~!
FOR PRESS 23 FEBRUARY 1977
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL GALLERY:
DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY/ MANAGER
The Government has decided to recommend to Executive Council the
appointment of Mr James Mollison as the first Director of the
Australian National Gallery for a term of seven years. The
Government has also decided to appoint a Secretary/ Manager to
manage the administrative and financial affairs of the Gallery.
These two statutory appointments will ensure a proper complement
of artistic and administrtive skills within the Gallery's
top management.
Mr Mollison has carried out the duties of Director since 1971
and was selected from a wide field of applicants who responded
to an advertisement placed in Australia and overseas in September
last year.
Mr Mollison had already made a major contribution to the development
of the National Collection. The quality of acquisitions purchased
under Mr Mollison's guidance has already established an
international reputation for the National Gallery. The new
Director's knowledge of and commitment to the visual arts is
well known and the Government is confident he will continue to
bring imagination and flair to the important task before him.
The Director will, as executive officer, be responsible for the
overall conduct of Gallery affairs. In particular, the
Director will concern himself with the direction of artistic
policy, the development of the National Collection and all
professional matters relating to the acquisition of works of art,
conservation and research and the exhibition of the National
Collection. Negotiations with the successful applicant for the position of
Secretary/ Manager are almost finalised. The Secretary/ Manager will
be Secretary of the Council and will be responsible for the
important administrative and financial affairs of the Gallery in
all their aspects. This will free the Director to undertake
those tasks for which he was primarily appointed and make the best
use of the professional skills of both. / 2
The CGovernmnent will also be proposing new administrative
procedures to the Gallery Council designed in association with
the~ se appointments, to ensure the development of a distinguished
National Collection on the most favourable terms in the
national interest. 000000000 n= I. ' 77, 1 I