It’s no secret that the past few years have seen many Australian artists and arts companies facing deeply challenging times. With diminished markets and evaporating funding, among other challenges, leadership is a critical issue. But is this a time for senior arts leaders to dig in, or a valuable moment for refresh and generational change?
Recently, we’ve seen departure announcements from several long-serving artistic directors. Sydney Dance Company’s Rafael Bonachela will leave his role in 2028 after 19 years, and Dancenorth’s co-Artistic Directors Kyle Page and Amber Haines will depart next year after 11 years of co-leadership, as just two examples.
