Mount Gambier City Council has welcomed Diana Warnes to the role of Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre manager.
Ms Warnes joins council from her most recent position as Head of Curatorial Projects at Home of the Arts (HOTA) on the Gold Coast and has spent the last four months working as a curatorial consultant for Rockhampton Museum of Art.
Originating from South Australia, Ms Warnes is excited to have landed a position in Mount Gambier and is looking forward to working with the team to continue curating programs and exhibitions for the community to enjoy.
“I love working in regional galleries – no matter where you live, getting a culture fix is vital and regional galleries are important in sharing diverse stories that engage local audiences,” she said.
“I grew up in South Australia and had decided after 20 years away that it was time to head home – the stars aligned.”
Starting in the role last week, Ms Warnes said she was keen to explore how The Riddoch could reflect its ethos of creativity and learning to locals, while also being a place of curiosity for tourists.
“I’m looking forward to discovering more about the history of the region, what people love about living here, and why visitors keep returning,” she said.
“It’s always a buzz to curate an exhibition that resonates with the community.
“I was delighted when the role became available at The Riddoch, a gorgeous gallery in a great regional city.”
City and Community Growth general manager Tim Coote said he looked forward to working with Ms Warnes to elevate the profile of the Riddoch Art Gallery as South Australia’s largest regional gallery.
“Diana’s previous experience in the arts industry will be invaluable in assisting her to oversee the operations of The Riddoch while continuing to collaboratively drive the vision, direction and strategy for the facility,” Mr Coote said.
“Diana will play an integral part as council continues to work towards establishing the Riddoch Arts and Cultural Trust.”
The appointment follows the departure of Riddoch Art Gallery Director Dr Melentie Pandilovski who accepted a position as Executive Director of Experimenta in Melbourne last August.
