Six of NSW’s oldest cultural institutions – the Sydney Opera House, Art Gallery of NSW, Powerhouse Museum, Australian Museum, State Library of NSW and Museums of History NSW – have added a new young director to their boards.
The appointments fulfil one of the key commitments in the Government’s Creative Communities policy to ensure the next generation of cultural leaders are at the decision-making table.
“The overwhelming interest, and calibre of candidates is a testament to the important role our Cultural Institutions play in our state,” said Minister for the Arts, John Graham.
Selected through a rigorous Expression of Interest appointment process that received almost 1,000 submissions from nearly 400 candidates across NSW, the inaugural six Cultural Institution Young Board Member (aged 18-28) appointees are:
- Dylan Goh – Sydney Opera House: an independent street dancer, producer, and curator with a decade of experience in the creative industries. He is the Australian founder of Palette Session, a not-for-profit experimental dance collective in Sydney and Seoul.
- Elijah Ingram – Museums of History NSW: a Wiradyuri digital artist, filmmaker, and cultural leader based in regional NSW, dedicated to First Nations storytelling, language revitalisation, and youth advocacy. He is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Miil Miil Productions.
- Hamani Tanginoa (pictured, left) – Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (Powerhouse): a proud Wiradjuri, Dharug, Gooreng Gooreng, and Tongan man, with Kinship connections to Dharawal, Yuin and Dhungutti Country, and currently resides on Dharawal Country, in Campbelltown, NSW. Hamani has a strong background in Community leadership, youth advocacy, and governance.
- Melissa Applin (pictured, right) – Australian Museum: an emerging arts and culture professional with a strong foundation in archaeology, museum education, youth leadership and performing arts.
- Vivian Pham – State Library of NSW: a Vietnamese-Australian writer, educator, and literary advocate from Western Sydney, her debut novel The Coconut Children was published by Penguin Random House in 2020.
- Will Cook – Art Gallery of NSW: strategic public relations professional with extensive experience in tourism, media relations, and stakeholder engagement.
“I congratulate Will, Melissa, Vivian, Elijah, Hamani and Dylan on their appointments. Our Cultural Institutions, and everyone who loves the arts, will benefit from your ideas and perspectives,” said Minister Graham.
“Young, next generation practitioners and audiences are essential to strengthen NSW’s arts, culture and creative industries for the long-term.”
Each member will serve a three-year term. They will each receive training from the Australian Institute of Company Directors to undertake the Foundations of Directorship™ (Public Sector) course. The Advocate for Children and Young People will also support their onboarding process.
Minister for Youth, Rose Jackson said the young directors will bring new life to the state’s six iconic Cultural institutions with their unique insights, expertise and experience.
“We will all benefit from empowering the next generation of leaders to play a crucial role in shaping and strengthening the future of arts, culture and science in NSW,” she said.
The six appointees will also take up a senior membership role in the Creative Youth Network to develop its future priorities. The Creative Youth Network advises key government Ministers directly on issues impacting young people engaged in the arts, culture and creative industries.
NSW Advocate for Children and Young People, Zoe Robinson said she looked forward to supporting the young directors, who will play a crucial role in shaping and strengthening the future of arts, culture and science in NSW.
“We know that young people are engaging in our cultural and creative industries, and having these incredible young people on these boards will ensure that their peers are represented in the spaces that matter,” said Ms Robinson.
“I commend the NSW Government for ensuring the voices and experiences of young people are heard in these spaces, and I look forward to providing ongoing support throughout the onboarding process.”
