Claire Spencer AM was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Arts Centre Melbourne in November 2014. Since that time she has steered the organisation through a major restructure to better position the organisation for the future and to assist with its key role as a leader in the cultural precinct and a major contributor to Victoria’s creative economy. Claire speaks to 3KND about her role and how is the Arts Centre engaging people within the COVID-19 space. Key projects have included: the launch of the ground-breaking Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts (Asia TOPA), delivered in collaboration with more than 30 Victorian organisations from across the cultural sector; the development of the Australian Music Vault; and the establishment of the Arts Wellbeing Collective, which promotes strong individual wellbeing for those who work in the arts sector.
Claire is leading a major redevelopment of Arts Centre Melbourne, including refurbishment of the Theatres Building and the addition of a new campus featuring workshop, studio and education spaces, an expanded Australian Music Vault gallery, and a major new gallery celebrating Australia’s performing arts history. The project is the centrepiece of a $1 billion transformation of the Melbourne Arts Precinct announced by the Victorian Government in June 2018. Claire is a Member of Chief Executive Women – the pre-eminent organisation representing Australia’s most senior women leaders from the corporate, public service, academic and not-for-profit sectors; she is on the board of The Pinnacle Foundation, established to provide scholarships and mentoring support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex students who are marginalised or disadvantaged; and is also a member of the Australian Government’s Australia–Singapore Arts Group.