BRIGETTE Uren, director at Maitland Regional Art Gallery, has resigned after three years at the helm of the city’s cultural hub.
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“It’s been an absolutely wonderful experience that I will cherish for my whole professional life,” she said.
Ms Uren took the reins in 2015, after spending two years as deputy director at the High Street gallery – succeeding Joe Eisenberg.
It’s been an absolutely wonderful experience that I will cherish for my whole professional life
- Brigette Uren
Speaking to the Mercury, Ms Uren said there were many highlights from her time with the gallery.
“The highlights, for me, would be the community engagement,” she said.
“There is no question that the way we partnered with various groups across health, business, education and other community groups … and how we all came together to achieve the same goal for various projects.
“I think it’s reflective of the generosity of the Maitland community. I adored how the groups came together for a common purpose, and [the] really outstanding community benefit.”
Ms Uren announced her resignation in a letter to the public last week.
“I’ve been gone a week but I already miss the warmth of the gallery and how it receives people,” she said.
“I think it’s a huge credit to all the team but even as much as the support of the mayor and councillors.”
Her list of achievements include the creation of the gallery’s highly popular Free Art January, which includes programs such as kid’s yoga in the gallery and an information day for arts and dementia .
But Ms Uren said the program was the product of the staff’s hard work, and reflected the community’s desire to be in engaged with the gallery.
“Last summer, the program brought more people to the gallery than the Archibald Prize,” she said.
“It continues to diversify because at the beginning, it was for school aged children but now we have something for everyone. The strength in Free Art January is in its all age capacity, and it starts the year with the gallery saying we are for all ages and engagement capacity.” Ms Uren has accepted a role as Arts in Health Director for Health Infrastructure NSW.
The gallery will offer 24 exhibitions in the coming year including an exhibit of its own works by the late Charles Blackman.
The gallery’s interim caretaker will be Maitland’s city librarian Keryl Collard.