NGA senior curator appointed to National Cultural Heritage Committee

The Australian Government has announced Tina Baum as a member of the National Cultural Heritage Committee for a three-year term.

Baum is the Senior Curator of First Nations Art at the National Gallery of Australia. A saltwater woman from the Gulumirrgin (Larrakia)/Wardaman/Karajarri peoples of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, Baum has curated national and international exhibitions and advanced First Nations arts leadership throughout her over 35 years of experience in museums and galleries throughout Australia.

Alongside the appointment of Baum, the Government has also reappointed Tim Sullivan, Simon Elliott, Jane Stewart and Louise Tegart as members of the Committee each for an additional three years.

The Committee provides advice to the Australian Government on matters of importance to cultural heritage, and provides guidance on the export of items of cultural significance.

Federal Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said he was pleased to welcome a member of Baum's calibre to the Committee and advised "Tina brings more than three decades of experience in the arts and cultural heritage sector to the National Cultural Heritage Committee.

"I'm certain the knowledge and passion she brings to the Committee will complement the contributions of the other members' work.

"She joins a group which is trusted to provide our government with guidance on sensitive matters relating to valued cultural items that tell the stories of our nation."

Tim Sullivan is a consultant in the museum and heritage fields. Sullivan has experience serving on numerous boards and advisory committees in the cultural heritage sector, and in a range of executive roles in the museum sector, including as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of The Sovereign Hill Museums Association, and as Assistant Director (National Collection) at the Australian War Memorial.

Simon Elliott is the Deputy Director of Collection and Exhibitions at the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art. He has previously held senior roles in various Australian public galleries, including the National Gallery of Australia and the National Portrait Gallery.

Jane Stewart is the Manager of Engagement with State Libraries and Archives Tasmania. Prior to taking up this role recently, Jane spent more than 15 years as the Principal Curator (Art) at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. She was also previously the Director of the Devonport Regional Gallery and Manager of the City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection.

Louise Tegart is Director of Australia's oldest and largest regional gallery, the Art Gallery of Ballarat. She is also the immediate past President of the Public Galleries Association of Victoria Board and has over 30 years' experience as a director, exhibition manager and curator across a range of galleries and museums nationwide.