AFTER several turbulent months following the departed of two key personnel, M16 Artspace has announced a new management team and all is well.

Jas Hugonnet, a well-regarded curator with his own online gallery who has for the past two years been managing design and fabrication projects for Thylacine design, has already started work as executive director and will open the M16 Artspace 2014 Drawing Prize as the first exhibition under his directorship this Friday, December 5.

He succeeds David Sequeira, who took the top job at M16 and almost immediately resigned to take up a gallery directorship in Victoria, causing headaches for M16 chair Frank Arnold and his board.

Hugonnet, who has previously worked in management at the Gallery of Australian Design and Craft ACT, says he is excited at the prospect of cementing M16’s reputation as a premier art space and studio facility in the nation’s capital.

M16 runs a substantial exhibition program while also providing 27 studios and 5 workshop spaces that foster arts activity throughout the ACT region and Hugonnet is suggesting that creative companies, embassies, galleries and the education sector could benefit from being associated with the Artspace.

Curator and writer Ellen Wignell has already been working for some weeks as the exhibitions and promotions coordinator, replacing Emily Casey. Wignell has worked at M16 for over a year and has transitioned into this new role from the Front of House position.

The well-respected Rhonda Pitson, best-known for her fine work at Tuggeranong Arts Centre, has been appointed as the finance and administration manager.

It looks like being a happy new year for M16.

To discuss possibilities and opportunities contact Jas Hugonnet on 02 6295 9438.