Carclew, South Australia’s leading youth arts organisation, has announced the departure of its Chair, Rachel Healy, effective this September. Healy will be taking up a new challenge as the Chief Executive of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) starting in December.
Healy, whose career spans over two decades, is a well-known figure in the Australian arts sector. She has held notable positions such as the Joint Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival and Executive Manager Culture at the City of Sydney among other significant roles. Healy’s leadership at Carclew over the past three years has seen the organisation through numerous successes and challenges.
Reflecting on her tenure, Healy stated, “It has been an honour and privilege to have chaired Carclew for the past four years through many successes and some significant challenges, overseeing a much-loved historical house full of purpose and driven to inspire and nurture creativity and ambition in young people.” She further expressed immense pride in Carclew’s role in youth arts in South Australia, “bringing joy to young creatives and helping them feel a sense of belonging and engagement.”
Mimi Crowe, CEO of Carclew, acknowledged Healy’s significant contribution, remarking, “We thank Rachel for her extensive contribution, successfully steering Carclew through a period of change and growth. We wish her every success for the future and for her exciting opportunity in Queensland.”
With Healy’s impending departure, Carclew has initiated the process to find a new Chair. This recruitment is spearheaded by Andrew Reed, General Manager at Hender Consulting. The search promises to be comprehensive, seeking a candidate who can continue the momentum of growth and transformation that has characterised Healy’s tenure.
The organisation is looking for an accomplished professional who shares a comprehensive background in governance, philanthropy, and stakeholder management. The role also demands a strong commercial and political savvy that will contribute to Carclew’s ongoing governance, relevance, and sustainability.
Crowe is optimistic about the future and believes it is an opportune time for a new leader to join Carclew. She highlighted the recent strategic appointments within the organisation, including Lisa Baker as Head of Programming, Robyn Jones as General Manager, and Jude Henshall as Producer. With these appointments, Crowie emphasized, “Carclew is well positioned for the future.”
The Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Blair Boyer MP, further supports this transition. He has encouraged experienced individuals to express their interest in the role, which not only promises significant influence within the organisation but also on the broader arts and cultural scene of the state.
Carclew, celebrated as a pivotal institution in nurturing and developing young talent, remains dedicated to its mission. With its headquarters in a historic house in Adelaide, it has grown to become Australia’s largest multi-artform cultural institution focused on youth. The organisation’s commitment to enriching young lives and advancing arts education is evident in its ambitious plans and the leadership that guides it.
As Carclew embarks on this important recruitment process, the organisation upholds its tradition of celebrating and advancing youth arts on both a state and national level, diligently searching for a leader who can carry forward its legacy and vision.
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