New direction for UQ Art Museum

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Tags: appointments, UQ Art Museum, winter-2011

New UQ Art Museum Director Dr Campbell Gray outside the James and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre

The new Director of The University of Queensland Art Museum, Dr Campbell Gray, was happy to be lured back to Australia to take up his position.

Dr Gray commenced his role in March after presiding over the Museum of Art at Brigham Young University in Utah for 14 years.

He holds a PhD in art history from the University of Sussex and has extensive experience in the higher education sector.

“One of the dimensions that really strikes me about UQ is its strong, exciting academic environment,” Dr Gray said.

“The UQ Art Museum has a really wonderful opportunity to contribute to academic discourse within the University’s curriculum.”

Dr Gray said he was enjoying being “home among the gum trees” and working in the stunning James and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre, which is home to the museum.

Prior to his time in the United States, Dr Gray held academic and leadership roles at the University of Western Sydney, where he was coordinator of their museum studies research and coursework activities.

UQ Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Keniger said in addition to having significant experience in higher education, Dr Gray had worked extensively with public galleries.

“Campbell was the inaugural Director of the Lewers Bequest and Penrith Regional Art Gallery in New South Wales,” Professor Keniger said.

“With an academic background in museum studies, he will build on the relationship between the art museum and the academic activities of the University.”

Dr Gray replaces Nick Mitzevich, who was appointed Director of the Art Gallery of South Australia last July.

UQ began acquiring art in the early 1940s and now holds the second-largest public art collection in Queensland.

By Fiona Cameron

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