NAVA Executive Director Tamara Winikoff Announces Resignation

Tamara Winikoff, the executive director of the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) in Australia, has announced her resignation after 22 years of service at the advocacy group.

Under Winikoff’s directorship, NAVA upheld its mandate of protecting and promoting the visual art, media art, craft and design sectors in Australia. In particular, Winikoff made strides in fueling the development of Australia’s visual arts scene by securing substantial increases in federal and state funding for the sector, beginning in 2002. Recently, in March, she released a statement on the NAVA website, lobbying for the partial return of funds from the Ministry of the Arts’ Catalyst Fund to the Australia Council. (In 2015, the federal government transferred AUD 104.7 million (USD 78.9 million) from the Council to the Catalyst Fund.) She also developed the Code of Practice, which established best practice standards for the entire industry. While at NAVA, she contributed to the launch of the “Fair Pay for Artists” campaign that called for industrial fairness for visual arts professionals.

Winikoff founded the Australian Design Alliance, and co-founded and served as co-convener of ArtsPeak, a confederation of art advocacy organizations in Australia. Winikoff has also left her post at ArtsPeak after 18 years with the organization.

In 2004, Winikoff was awarded the Australia Council’s Visual Arts/Craft Emeritus Medal for outstanding achievements and contributions to Australian visual arts and crafts. Ten years later, she received the Order of Australia medal.

In a statement issued by NAVA, Winikoff said, “I look forward to seeing where the energy and drive of NAVA will take it in the future. There is always so much to do and I am sure my successor will enjoy great rewards and satisfaction in leading the organization into the next exciting phase of its development.”

Winikoff’s directorship of NAVA will conclude on June 30. The organization will launch a national recruitment campaign to search for her replacement.

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