31 May 2016

Welcome John Head.

Well-known local arts identity and SheppARTon Festival life member John Head has been appointed as a community representative member of the new SAM Project Board.

Mr Head joins the Build Shepparton Art Museum Project Board Committee which oversees the management of the project milestones and communications to councillors and the community. The milestones include the architectural design, construction plans, planning and building permits, funding and governance.

John Head is well credentialed to be on the Board as a passionate supporter of the arts in Shepparton and a driving force behind the SheppARTon Festival. “I believe the development of the new SAM will be a major game changer in the cultural, artistic and tourism landscape of the Goulburn Valley,” said Mr Head.

“Shepparton is a large multicultural community with one of the largest indigenous communities in rural Victoria. The development of a new SAM will be an important step in displaying and sustaining some of the best attributes of our region including our racial tolerance and social cohesion,” he said.

“I believe a new SAM has the potential to put Shepparton on the cultural tourism map as a link between the established and financially proven model of the art museums of Albury and Bendigo,” said Mr Head. “I am very much looking forward to being a part of the Project Board and helping to guide the process of building the new SAM.”

The current membership consists of 14 members from Council, the SAM Foundation, Regional Development Victoria (RDV), Gallery Kaiela and the Kaiela Institute.

Greater Shepparton City Council Director Community and Project Board Chair Kaye Thomson said she was very pleased with the high calibre of applications received for the position and was keen to welcome John Head to the Board.

“John brings a wealth of experience in and knowledge of the arts in our region and will be an asset to the Board in representing the community and ensuring a different viewpoint is available,” said Ms Thomson. “We look forward to his input over the course of the project.”