New interim leadership team for Art Gallery of Western Australia

• Interim leadership will commence on July 23, 2019 for six-month period
• Colin Walker to act as chief executive officer and Dr Ric Spencer as lead curator 

The interim leadership team will work with the Art Gallery's board during the recruitment process for a new permanent director.

Senior government arts executive, Colin Walker will act as chief executive officer managing administration of the Gallery from July 23, 2019.

Mr Walker is the executive director of the culture and the arts service area at the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, having spent more than 10 years with the department. The area is responsible for the sector's funding, policy development and partnerships in Western Australia's culture and arts sector.

Mr Walker represents the department on the Art Gallery, Western Australian Museum, State Library of Western Australia and the Perth Theatre Trust boards.

Mr Walker has considerable international experience within the sector. He was previously Director of 'Arts & Business' in the United Kingdom, a charity organisation that develops partnerships between the arts and culture, and private sectors.

Artist and writer, Dr Ric Spencer will work with Mr Walker during this interim period, providing artistic leadership as lead curator of the Gallery.

Dr Spencer is curator of the Fremantle Arts Centre, City of Fremantle. From 2004-10, he was an art critic at The West Australian newspaper and from 2000-10, he lectured at Curtin University where he holds a Doctor of Creative Arts.