Changing of the guard at SA youth arts organisations
Theatre
Two of Adelaide’s key youth arts organisations have announced leadership changes, with Tricia Walton to step down as chief executive of Carclew while Clare Watson has been appointed new artistic director of Windmill Theatre.
Walton, who has led Carclew for 15 years and will leave the role in March next year, said the decision to move on was one of the hardest she had ever made, but she was looking forward to “exploring new creative opportunities and independent projects”.
“Working at Carclew has been a joy as every day is different, involving interactions with inspiring people of all ages,” she said.
“The knowledge that my work has, in a small way, helped take creativity into the lives of so many of our children, young people and aspiring artists has been a driving force for me.”
The multi-arts organisation, based at historic Carclew House in North Adelaide, has just celebrated its 50th anniversary. Board chair Rachel Healy paid tribute to Walton’s artistic leadership, saying she had built on Carclew’s “exceptional history” with new initiatives, programs and partnerships.
“Her accomplishments are vast and varied, and in the last two years she has led the organisation through the challenges of COVID with deep empathy, resilience and an unwavering commitment to Carclew’s core purpose,” Healy says.
Carclew will begin the search for a new chief executive in January.
Meanwhile, Windmill Theatre has today announced that Clare Watson, the former artistic director of Perth’s Black Swan Theatre, will lead the Adelaide company as it embarks on its next chapter.
The appointment follows the announcement in September that Windmill’s artistic director for the past 14 years, Rosemary Myers, is moving into a new full-time role as AD of the company’s film and television arm, Windmill Pictures.
“As a card-carrying member of the Windmill Fan Club, it is an absolute honour to join the team,” says Watson, who has previously held roles with Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre and St Martin Youth Arts Centre, as well as directing works for companies including State Theatre Company SA and Sydney Theatre Company.
“Windmill is a company that prioritises playfulness, empowers artists and leads at the cutting-edge of live performance work for young people. I look forward to working with the high-calibre team and talented artists of South Australia to make Windmill Theatre experiences that continue to excite the most culturally savvy, boundlessly imaginative audience members there are – kids.”
The company says Watson will transition into the role, including working on the development of new work and directing its next major show, Hans & Gret, “an anarchic psychological thriller” which will have its world premiere at next year’s Adelaide Festival. She won’t relocate to Adelaide to join the company in a full-time capacity until 2024.
In announcing the appointment today, Windmill chair Richard Harris described Watson as one of Australia’s most inventive directors.
“Clare is incredibly passionate about engaging young people both as audience members and artists,” Harris said. “I know that the board and team are thrilled to be working with her, and I look forward to seeing her lead the continued evolution of Windmill Theatre Company as we embark on our next chapter.”
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The past six months have seen a number of leadership changes in South Australia’s leading arts organisations, including the appointment of a new chief executive officer, Colin Cornish, at the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra following the departure of long-time CEO Vincent Ciccarello, and the appointment of a new board chair (Elizabeth Olsson) at State Opera, which is also expected to announce a new artistic director in the new year ahead of Stuart Maunder’s departure in mid-2023.
South Australian Film Corporation chair Julie Cooper also resigned this month after only a year in the role, with board member Miriam Silva appointed as interim chair.
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