More Than Just Art on Walls: Public Art Galleries

Victoria is home to 60+ galleries across the state, including our very own Shepparton Art Museum. More than just art on walls, public galleries a platform for thousands of artists as small-business people, and they are the workplace for hundreds of skilled creative workers.

Local visual artists and creative workers are invited to join us for this panel discussion hosted by Shepparton-based visual artist Mimi Leung along with curators Danny Lacy and Eric Nash and senior leadership from NETS Victoria Claire Watson and Bec Cole. It will be a great opportunity to understand more about the role that public galleries play in our communities and to find out how to access opportunities for professional development, presentation of work and employment in these spaces.

This session is an outcome of Greater Shepparton City Council's Creative City Strategy, produced by TOPSOIL and supported by Riverlinks and Shepparton Art Museum.

Host: Mimi Leung (visual artist)
Panellists: Danny Lacy (SAM Artistic Director, PGAV Chair), Claire Watson (NETS Victoria Director), Eric Nash (Benalla Art Gallery Director), Bec Cole (NETS Victoria Board of Management)

About the Presenters

Mimi Leung she/her
Visual Artist
Lives and works on Yorta Yorta Country

Mimi Leung is a contemporary artist recognised internationally for her vibrant, intricate illustrations. Born in Hong Kong, Mimi studied in London and currently resides in Shepparton. Her playful work, infused with whimsical details and featuring animals, insects and mythological creatures in fantastical worlds, often explore themes of introspection, imagination and wonder.

 Mimi has exhibited internationally and has worked with global brands and publications. Her multimedia practice spans traditional and digital media as well as community development and creative facilitation. She is represented by the Jacky Winter Group.

Danny Lacy he/him
Artistic Director, Shepparton Art Musuem
Chair, Public Galleries Association of Victoria
Lives and works on Yorta Yorta Country

Over 25 years Danny has maintained an active curatorial practice within a range of Victorian based public galleries. In 2024, Danny rejoined Shepparton Art Museum as Artistic Director, following 8 years at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery (MPRG), initially as Senior Curator and later as Gallery Director. During his time at MPRG, Danny led a period of sustained growth and change and was one of the Artistic Directors behind the Mornington Peninsula’s ambitious public art project Front Beach, Back Beach, developed in collaboration with Deakin University’s Public Art Commission.

Prior to working at MPRG, Danny held curatorial roles in a range contemporary art spaces, including as Director of West Space, Curator at SAM, Program Administrator at Monash University Museum of Art, and Installation & Project Coordinator at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. He holds a Master of Arts (Visual Culture) and Postgraduate Diploma of Arts (Art History and Film Studies) from Monash University. In 2015 he was based in Singapore for three months as he undertook an Asialink Arts Management residency.

 Eric Nash he/him
Director, Benalla Art Gallery
Lives and works on Yorta Yorta Country

Eric Nash is an arts professional with qualifications in Visual Art (Majoring in Painting), Arts Administration, and Management, and a wealth of experience in the gallery sector. Appointed in 2019 to lead the Benalla Art Gallery - a cultural and architectural icon of northeast Victoria since it opened in 1975, with a significant Collection spanning three centuries of Australian art - Nash was previously the General Manager for the country's leading lens-based media gallery, the Centre for Contemporary Photography. Nash has also developed training programs for Victorian galleries' peak body, the Public Galleries Association of Victoria. He is experienced in working in public galleries in a regional context, having worked for Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery in Townsville for nine years, including as Curator from 2013 to 2016.

Bec Cole she/her
palawa
Research Fellow, Deakin University; Coordinator, Arts, Culture and Local History, Manningham City Council
Chair: Board of Management, NETS Victoria
Lives and works on Bunurong Country and Wurundjeri Country

Bec Cole is the Chair of NETS Victoria, a Research Fellow at Deakin University and Coordinator, Arts, Culture and Local History at Manningham City Council. She has previously worked extensively in local government spanning leadership, strategic and creative programming roles across public art, galleries, performing arts, major event and activity centre settings. Bec is a former Director of Latrobe Regional Gallery, led the establishment of Gippsland Performing Arts Centre and is a champion of creating access to contemporary art for everyone. Previously, Bec was the Executive Director and Co-CEO of Footscray Community Arts and led the Arts & Culture program at Wyndham City Council. She implemented a bold exhibition program at Wyndham Art Gallery, establishing a curatorial model of practice that supports a diversity of perspectives and raised the profile of the gallery to national presence. Bec holds a Master of Commerce with specialties in business, economics and marketing; winning the prestigious RMIT Master of Commerce Prize in 2018. She also holds a Master of Community Cultural Development from the Victorian College of the Arts. Bec regularly writes articles on culture, creativity and community, and has an extensive background in community engagement and policy. Bec is proudly palawa.

Claire Watson she/her
Director, NETS Victoria
Lives and works on Wurundjeri Country

Claire Watson is a passionate contributor to the arts community through her role on boards and advisory committees, as a judge for industry prizes, a writer, and lecturer. Her professional experience includes serving as an advisor on the Touring Panel for Creative Victoria (2014-2016), board member of the Public Galleries Association of Victoria (2017-2019) chairing their Advocacy and Research Committee; and a range of senior roles at arts organisations including BLINDSIDE, Asialink, Gippsland Art Gallery, and Bundoora Homestead Art Centre. Claire has curated over 100 exhibitions including the Artspace Mackay touring exhibition Violent Salt co-curated with Yhonnie Scarce; NETS Victoria/BLINDSIDE touring exhibition Synthetica (2015-2016); and the Asialink/BLINDSIDE touring exhibition Vertigo (2014). She has been a guest speaker at the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei; Galerie Soemardja, Indonesia; and the TransCultural Exchange Conference, USA. Claire is an Affiliate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a member of the National Association of Visual Arts, an advocate for inclusive practices and a lover of innovation.