By Phil Jarratt
Australia’s latest supremo of the visual arts world credits Noosa and its beaches with providing the creative stimuli to take her to the top.
Former Sunshine Beach High student Bree Pickering, 40, who grew up in Kin Kin and Marcus Beach, was last week announced as the new director of Canberra’s National Portrait Gallery, a blue-ribbon appointment in Australian arts administration.
Shortly after the announcement, Bree told Noosa Today: “There’s no way you’re not going to be into aesthetics if you spend time in Noosa. It’s just so beautiful. The ocean is where a lot of creativity comes from, I’m sure. But also there was time for me to dream and imagine, growing up in Noosa.”
It also helped that she was surrounded by art in her formative years, with dad John Pickering a fine jazz guitarist and he and mum Di later working on major films.
“Our home was full of music and books and laughter. Mum and Dad both showed us that life is better with art in it. They supported every direction I went in – and there were a few! And they still do,” Bree said.
Bree said her love affair with the arts when younger was mainly about literature and the performing arts, until she reconnected in Sydney with Sunshine Beach High schoolmate Kate Mitchell, a nationally recognised artist who has recently moved back to Noosa.
“Kate introduced me to her housemate at the time, Marley Dawson, an artist who I fell in love with and now share my whole life with.”
When Marley’s career took him to Philadelphia, Bree became executive director of Vox Populi, a not-for-profit contemporary art space in the city, and also won an appointment as cultural program manager for the Australian Embassy in Washington. Her experience in the US equipped her well for her first appointment on her return to Australia, directing the Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA), a position she held from 2016.
As the NPG noted: “A highly regarded arts leader with extensive experience in the public and private gallery sectors, at MAMA, Bree designed and implemented the strategic and creative vision for the newly refurbished museum, establishing it as a nationally-recognised destination while deepening its collaboration with and impact on the local community. She is also an exceptional curator with a distinguished catalogue of past exhibitions and programs behind her, and a passionate advocate for the fair treatment of artists and arts workers.”
Fresh from announcing Australia’s new cultural policy with the Prime Minister, Arts Minister Tony Burke said of Bree’s appointment: “The National Portrait Gallery is a place where people go to learn about great Australians from Eddie Mabo to Kylie Minogue.
“It holds up a mirror to who we are, showcasing our diverse history and culture.
“It’s critical the Gallery is supported to continue doing that. I know Bree will bring creativity and vision to the National Portrait Gallery and look forward to working with her to secure the future of this important cultural institution.”
Bree said she was thrilled and honoured to be appointed director of the National Portrait Gallery. “The Gallery is dynamic and innovative, and as a young national cultural institution it is well positioned to respond to and reflect upon our culture and history. I join the Gallery at an exciting time with the recently launched National Cultural Policy promising a reinvigoration of the arts and culture sector. I’m looking forward to contributing to the Gallery’s continued success in its 25th year and beyond.”
When Noosa Today caught up with Bree she was still up in the clouds, while shopping for a school in Canberra for four-year-old son Neon, so we decided to bring her back to earth with some favourite memories of Noosa: “Oh, easy. Before-school swims at Marcus Beach with my dog. I still remember how special it felt to be alone on that open stretch of beach. It’s still my favourite place in the world!”
