Renewed cultural leadership for the University

The University of Melbourne has appointed Rose Hiscock as Director of Museums and Collections. This new role will provide guidance and coordination to the University’s museums and galleries to showcase the University’s great cultural collections to the community and the world.

The University’s cultural infrastructure includes 15 galleries and museums, libraries, archives, major performing arts facilities including the Melbourne Theatre Company and the Union Theatre, and a significant art collection.

University of Melbourne Vice-President Strategy and Culture Julie Wells welcomed Ms Hiscock’s appointment.

“Since the University’s inception in 1853, its cultural collection has grown to become one of the largest and most important collections in Australia. It conveys a distinctively Australian story – 60 000 years of Indigenous knowledge, 200 years of engaging with European heritage, and generations of migrant stories up to and including the present day,” Dr Wells said.

“Consolidating the four major galleries – the Ian Potter Museum of Art, the Buxton Contemporary in Southbank, the newly opened Old Quad gallery and Science Gallery Melbourne – under Rose’s leadership is the first step in the Cultural Commons, a programme of work which we hope will leverage the University’s cultural collections, including the performing arts, to increase their accessibility to students and scholars and to open them up for the enjoyment and appreciation of the world.”

Pro Vice-Chancellor Community and Cultural Partnerships Professor Su Baker said: “The University has world class museums and cultural collections that are already enjoyed by many in the community and attract visitors from overseas. Rose is a respected leader with national and international museum experience, and we are delighted that she will lead the first phase of our new Cultural Commons ambition.”

Ms Hiscock joined the University in 2016 as the inaugural Director of Science Gallery Melbourne. Part of the acclaimed Science Gallery International network and embedded in the University of Melbourne, the Gallery will open in 2020 as part of Melbourne Connect and be a dynamic new model for engaging youths with science.

This new role will see an expansion of Ms Hiscock’s current responsibilities – she will continue to have oversight of Science Gallery Melbourne and work with the directors of the Ian Potter Museum of Art and Buxton Contemporary to provide strategic leadership, and identify opportunities for scholarship and local and global engagement.

“The University of Melbourne is custodian to one of the world’s greatest collections. I am delighted to be able build on this remarkable bank of knowledge whilst developing our museums and galleries to connect with audiences both internationally and at home,” Ms Hiscock said.

Ms Hiscock will commence in the new role on 2 September 2019.