Vale Betty Churcher

Australia’s only female director of the National Gallery of Australia, Betty Churcher dies at the age of 84.
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Betty Churcher, former NGA director. Source: Adelaide Advertiser

Betty Churcher was a pioneer. As the first – and only – female director of the National Gallery of Australia (1990-1997), she grew a nation’s appreciation and acceptance of art.  

Under her tenure she changed the gallery’s name from the Australian National Gallery bringing it in line with international conventions, took the gallery to new heights of popular appeal championing the large scale exhibitions, which earned her the title “Betty Blockbuster”, and in later years was the face of several television series on art.

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Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's National Visual Arts Editor. For a decade she worked as a freelance writer and curator across Southeast Asia and was previously the Regional Contributing Editor for Hong Kong based magazines Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. Prior to writing she worked as an arts manager in America and Australia for 14 years, including the regional gallery, biennale and commercial sectors. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW. Twitter: @ginafairley Instagram: fairleygina