Elizabeth Ann Macgregor steps down as director of the MCA Australia

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) announced that its director Elizabeth Ann Macgregor will step down from the top job come October 2021. Macgregor has been at the helm of the Museum for more than two decades, carving a name for the MCA as the premier public gallery presenting art by contemporary artists in Australia. The decision comes as the MCA celebrates its 30^th anniversary year. “The last two decades have been the most thrilling and rewarding of my professional life,” said Macgregor in a public statement. “The decision to leave has been extraordinarily difficult to make, but the 30th anniversary seemed like the right moment to hand the reins over to ensure the MCA continues to evolve and thrive.”

After a tumultuous year in which the Museum felt the full effects of Covid-19 difficulties, Macgregor acknowledges her decision was made in part due to personal circumstance. “It has also been hard to be cut off from family in the Northern Hemisphere during COVID-19,” she says, “so I’m planning to return to the United Kingdom in October to spend time with family initially.”

MCA Chairman, Lorraine Tarabay also made a statement about the announcement, thanking Macgregor for her visionary leadership. “While we are deeply disappointed to see Liz Ann go, we understand and respect her decision and thank her for her enormous contribution to not only the MCA but contemporary art in Australia. Liz Ann has also worked tirelessly to advocate for Australian contemporary art and artists internationally… I will miss our close working relationship which has been enormously enjoyable, rewarding and exciting.”

The MCA has announced that the chairman and directors of the MCA have commenced the search for a new director, one up to the challenge of filling the large shoes Macgregor leaves empty.

Image: Elizabeth Ann Macgregor OBE.