Accessible Arts’ CEO Kerry Comerford will leave the organisation in early January 2021 after more than two years in the role.

Kerry, who has an extensive background in arts administration, was recruited in October 2018 and has overseen a period of important outcomes for NSW’s peak arts and disability organisation. These include responding to the impact of the COVID pandemic,  delivering the biennial Arts Activated conference in 2019, expanding the organisation’s industry education and training programs, launching a range of new development and production initiatives, developing a new four-year strategic plan, and securing four-year core funding for the organisation from Create NSW.

Kerry said: “I am proud of what we’ve achieved over the last two years – especially in the face of the COVID pandemic – and I look forward to Accessible Arts continuing to accelerate and celebrate the diverse professional, cultural and social impacts of arts and disability in NSW. I would like to thank the Accessible Arts staff, trainers, advisors and board for working alongside me and I would like to thank all our community members, supporters, partners and stakeholders for the contributions they have made during my time at Accessible Arts. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to help advance the arts and disability agenda in NSW.”

Accessible Arts Chair Emeritus Professor Sharman Pretty: “On behalf of the Board of Accessible Arts I would like to thank Kerry for her service, and congratulate her on stewarding the organisation with such great commitment, enthusiasm, ambition and success. The outcomes the organisation has achieved under Kerry’s leadership have been significant for such a small organisation with limited resources, and we are extremely grateful for the energy, knowledge, skill and networks that Kerry brought to her role as CEO. We wish her all the very best for the next chapter of her life, in South Australia.”

Following Kerry’s departure, arts and disability consultant Morwenna Collett will contribute to the leadership and management of the organisation until a new CEO is appointed.

ENDS

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