FORMER senior curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA), Franchesca Cubillo, has today (February 17) been named the new executive director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts at the Australia Council.

A former Churchill Fellow, Cubillo has also worked at the South Australian Museum, the National Museum of Australia, and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

She is also the inaugural chair of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation and inaugural co-chair of the National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Alice Springs.

A Yanuwa, Larrakia, Bardi, and Wardaman woman from a well-known top end family in the Northern Territory, Cubillo replaces long-time director Lydia Miller, who will leave the council after more than 20 years.

Chair of the First Nations Arts Strategy Panel and retiring Sydney Festival director, Wesley Enoch says Cubillo has worked tirelessly to develop significant first nations-specific policies and programs that address indigenous advancement, agency and self-determination.

She will commence at the Australia Council in March. The NGA has yet to announce a replacement.