AFTER Shane Breynard resigned as the director of the Canberra Museum and Gallery last year, the Cultural Facilities Corporation, which manages CMAG, has finally announced its desire to find a new director. 

The CMAG director role has been vacant since Mr Breynard resigned from the position last year to pursue doctoral studies at the ANU. Sophie Chessell, who leads learning and community programs at CMAG, has been acting in the role since.

With CMAG’s recent reopening after the COVID-19 closures, and with its activities starting to return to normal, CEO of the corporation, Harriet Elvin, said it was time to seek a new director.

“Acting director Sophie Chessell has been filling the role very capably since Shane’s departure but is now keen to return to a focus on learning and community programs, which is her main professional interest,” Elvin said.

She also thanked Breynard for his leadership of CMAG for the eight-year period from 2011 to 2019, a time in which he further raised the profile and status of CMAG, increased visitor numbers substantially, and led an “exciting and innovative exhibition program”.

Ms Elvin said the directorship was being advertised nationally, and that the organisation was seeking a person with an excellent record of achievement in the museums and galleries sector, and with the vision and drive to develop CMAG further as a leading regional facility.