The state'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 each added a new director aged 18-28 to their boards.
These appointments fulfil one of the key commitments in the Creative Communities policy to ensure the next generation of cultural leaders are at the decision-making table.
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 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 - 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 - 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.
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.
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.
Minister for the Arts John Graham said:
"The overwhelming interest, and calibre of candidates is a testament to the important role our Cultural Institutions play in our state.
"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.
"Young, next generation practitioners and audiences are essential to strengthen NSW's arts, culture and creative industries for the long-term.
Minister for Youth Rose Jackson said:
"Young people are the future of our state's oldest and revered Cultural Institutions so including them on governing boards just makes sense if we want them to thrive in years to come.
"We are delivering on our firm commitment to ensure the next generation of creative leaders are at the decision-making table, confirming NSW's position as the national leader in cultural policy.
"These 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.
NSW Advocate for Children and Young People, Zoe Robinson said:
"I look forward to supporting Will, Melissa, Vivian, Elijah, Hamani and Dylan, 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.
"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."
