When you need to change to get it right

The MCA has worked with its challenges – and in sync with museum trends globally – to rethink its future. ArtsHub speaks with Director Suzanne Cotter.
Woman in blue suit outside Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. To the right of her is a huge patterned arrow on the wall pointing down to the ground.

As the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) welcomed its 20 millionth visitor last month, it was good news that followed in the wake of a tough few months, which saw the Museum questioned over its funding challenges.

Let’s face it – what arts organisation doesn’t have funding challenges? How they manage them is where the real story lies.

Suzanne Cotter marked two years in her role as Director as this news was breaking. It has been two years that could hardly be described as “conventional”. ArtsHub catches up with Cotter to discuss those woes, and how working through them has actually forced a reimagined future.

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Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's Senior Contributor, after 12 years in the role as National Visual Arts Editor. She has worked for extended periods in America and Southeast Asia, as gallerist, arts administrator and regional contributing editor for a number of magazines, including Hong Kong based Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. She is an Art Tour leader for the AGNSW Members, and lectures regularly on the state of the arts. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW. Instagram: fairleygina