Jason Smith

Director and CEO of
Heide Museum of Modern Art

Who are you and what do you do?

I have been the Director and CEO of Heide Museum of Modern Art since June 2008; I oversee the artistic direction of the Museum and manage the business. I worked as curator of contemporary art at the NGV for 10 years prior to joining Heide. I had an early passion to be an artist and spent four fantastic, life-changing years at the ANU School of Art studying printmaking. But life took me into the museum world – and what a constantly intriguing world it is!

What has been your greatest challenge?

The leadership of an iconic organisation like Heide is an enormous privilege, but presents daily challenges. For me, the greatest challenge to date has been the major redevelopment and construction of the new Café Vue at Heide. I’ve worked closely with the designer and builder on the beautiful glass pavilion space, and with Shannon Bennett and his team to develop a great café menu of seasonal produce that draws on some of the riches of Heide’s vegetable and kitchen gardens.

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