New Move for CarriageWorks CEO, Sue Hunt

Ms Hunt has recently been appointed as Executive Director of The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation in Melbourne.
In her time as inaugural Chief Executive at CarriageWorks, Ms Hunt oversaw the development of the building, the opening of CarriageWorks as Sydney’s newest home for contemporary arts and culture, and worked to deliver a commercial strategy to the NSW Government in line with the original business case model.

Linda Gregoriou said: ‘Sue has been an exemplary CEO and it has been an absolute delight to work with her. She has great respect from the Board of Directors and the staff of CarriageWorks and we wish her well in her new role at the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation.’

Ms Hunt has presided over strong financial results, an exciting and innovative program of events and continued growth in audiences for CarriageWorks.  Under her leadership, CarriageWorks has become an established and exciting destination of the Sydney arts and culture scene.  Audiences at CarriageWorks have grown year on year, in 2009 alone 112,000 people attended events at CarriageWorks.  In the three years since opening in January 2007, over 261,000 people have come through the doors and engaged with CarriageWorks’ programs and events.

Ms Hunt leaves CarriageWorks as an arts organisation that directs commercial revenues into the arts sector and actively supports artists.  By the end of 2010, around $4 million has been reinvested into the small to medium sector in the first three years of operation. In 2009 alone, over 3000 artists were employed or supported by CarriageWorks.  Currently 70% of CarriageWorks’ revenues come from commercial venue rentals, which makes up only 21% of the activities of the centre overall, while over 70% of the centre’s activity engages with the small to medium sector.

Under Ms Hunt’s leadership, CarriageWorks’ has found a place as Sydney’s home for contemporary arts and culture.  Since opening in 2007, CarriageWorks has created, presented and co-presented a wide range of successful projects such as Sydney Children’s Festival (2008, 2009), Platform Hip Hop Festival (2008, 2009, 2010), Underbelly Public Arts Lab + Festival (2007, 2008), the Wrong Prom series (2009, 2010), the CarriageWorks Kitchen Garden Project (2009, 2010), carriageARTworks exhibition (2009, 2010), and The Finders Keepers Independent Design & Art Markets (2008, 2009, 2010).

Ms Hunt has been a tireless champion for the small to medium arts sector in her role as CarriageWorks Chief Executive.  Ms Hunt has overseen the commissioning, development and support not only of CarriageWorks’ 8 resident organisations, but also many Australian arts companies, and thousands of individual artists.

The CarriageWorks board, staff and resident organisations will miss Sue’s leadership and strong advocacy for CarriageWorks, the small to medium arts sector, and the wider arts industry.

The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation’s primary role is the raising, managing and distributing of funds donated to The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. The foundation is best known for its Good Friday Appeal. More information about the Foundation and how to make a donation here.

Source: CarriageWorks News May 2010