Inaugural Director, Performing Arts to enrich student arts and culture community
The University of Melbourne is delighted to announce that Virginia Lovett has been appointed inaugural Director of Performing Arts, as a new $70 million Arts and Cultural Building opens its doors. She will lead the development and operations of a new home for student theatre and performance, while collaborating with local and international partners to create an exciting new cultural destination on campus.
Ms Lovett, an experienced creative arts executive, comes to the role from the Melbourne Theatre Company, where she was Executive Director and Co-CEO for 10 years.
In her new role Ms Lovett will work with students and the University’s internationally-recognised performing arts community to foster creativity and develop future talent, collaborate with local and international creative industry partners and open the vibrant University performing arts experience to the wider community.
One of the biggest employers of artists in Victoria, the University of Melbourne has a great tradition of supporting performing arts. Many of Australia’s finest theatre performers, artists, directors and arts leaders developed their talents as students at the University.
Ms Lovett said: “If ever there was a time for students to shape future cultural direction and creative industry practice, it is now, coming out of COVID. In establishing this new arts and cultural building and precinct in the heart of the University of Melbourne surrounded by curious young minds, the potential is bursting with possibilities. It will be a hub of student, artistic and public engagement with state-of-the-art venues, not only for student development on and off stage but for arts companies both locally, nationally and internationally.”
University of Melbourne Vice-President (Strategy and Culture), Dr Julie Wells, welcomed Ms Lovett’s appointment: “We are fortunate to have someone of Virginia’s calibre and experience leading this exciting new initiative, in the heart of our Parkville campus.
“Our ambition is to offer a world-class on-campus experience for students to foster connection, collaboration, creativity and new pathways into creative industry, while contributing to the cultural life of Melbourne and Victoria.”
Melbourne Theatre Company Chair Jane Hansen AO, who is also the University’s Deputy Chancellor, said: “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Virginia Lovett for her outstanding leadership of Melbourne Theatre Company over the past decade, including navigating the very challenging times presented by the pandemic. The Company, despite being the most impacted theatre company in the country is now poised for recovery.”
The Arts and Cultural Building was opened last month and hosts to two new theatres and state-of-the art audio and lighting systems, in addition to the University of Melbourne Student Union’s (UMSU) established art programs.
Ms Lovett will commence her role at the University in early 2023.