Head of Creative, Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Art Gallery of New South Wales was preparing for its $344 million Sydney Modern redevelopment, and created a highly visible, high-stakes appointment central to the Gallery's strategic plan.
Exterior view of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Naala Badu (left) and Naala Nura (right), photo © Iwan Baan
Overview
The Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney's leading public gallery and one of the largest in Australia, was preparing for its $344 million Sydney Modern redevelopment, its first major expansion in 30 years. Ahead of this, the Gallery's Director of Public Engagement created a new role, Head of Creative, to lead the visual identity and design function through the project.
The Challenge
After running their own four-month search and interviewing six shortlisted candidates, the Gallery's executive panel found no one with the creative vision or leadership depth the role demanded. The position needed a creative trailblazer with international art-world credibility, the change management skills to rebuild a fractured, overstretched design team, and the versatility to lead across print, digital, spatial and exhibition design, all within a fixed, non-negotiable statutory salary bracket.
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Our Approach
EP Australia built a capability framework in consultation with the Gallery to define exactly what success looked like, then developed a market map to identify candidates through direct approach rather than open advertising. A shortlist was delivered within three weeks, and EP Australia prepared candidates through each stage of the Gallery's rigorous interview process, including a second-stage presentation and detailed reference checks on the final two candidates.
Key Stat
100%
Of the shortlisted candidates supplied by EP Australia were invited to interview. All shortlisted candidates were direct approaches, sourced through EP Australia’s own network.
Criteria for Success
Success meant finding a leader who combined genuine creative authority with the operational skills to manage budgets, high-profile stakeholders and a team in need of rebuilding, all while fitting within the constraints of a statutory body's fixed pay bracket.
Outcomes
The Gallery interviewed the entire EP Australia shortlist, with three candidates progressing to a final panel stage. A preferred candidate was identified, met with the Gallery's Director and Deputy Director, and received and accepted a formal offer the following day, commencing just ten weeks after EP Australia was engaged.
4 Months
10 Weeks
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