Suzanne cotter biography

  • I have over 25 years experience as a curator of contemporary art and museum director with a professional network that extends from Europe and the US to Brazil.
  • Suzanne Cotter is a leading curator and scholar of international contemporary art with over 30 years' experience.
  • Suzanne Cotter, director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, once co-curated a major exhibition of works by Italian artist Piero Manzoni.

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    Suzanne Cotter

    Suzanne Cotter. Director, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, Australia

    Years professionally involved in the contemporary art museum field: 28 years

    Have you served on another board or organization similar to CIMAM? Yes

    If so, where and how long have you served? CIMAM Board Member since 2017, Member of Mophradat since 2018.

    Short bio. Describe also your involvement with CIMAM and the museum community:

    I have over 25 years experience as a curator of contemporary art and museum director with a professional network that extends from Europe and the US to Brazil, parts of the Arab speaking world and Australia. I am deeply committed to museums and their importance in society and to the potential for collaborative discussion, production and exchange and to their empowerment of individuals and communities. As a current member of CIMAM since 2017, I have had the privilege of engaging with CIMAM members and fellow Board members on a range of issues, from Museum Watch to addressing Museums in a time of global pandemic. With a history of Board appointments for Arts and cultural organisations, I have gained significant experience in developing networks and in advocacy. These activities are embedded in my deep commitment to the Arts and artists and

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    Newly appointed Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA), Suzanne Cotter chats to Alex Pedley about her plans for the venerable institution and contemporary Australian art more broadly.

    By Alex Pedley

    Alex Pedley (AP)/ You have led institutions in various cities and countries around the world, having grown up in Australia, does your new appointment coinciding with a ‘homecoming’ of sorts feel different to previous directorships?

    Suzanne Cotter (SC)/ Returning to Australia to take up the role of director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Australia (MCA) would be a milestone in any museum director’s career. Being Australian-born and having grown up here, my appointment is infused with, dare I say, a certain life poetry.

    AP/ What are your greatest passions or drivers when taking over leadership of a major institution?

    SC/ Ensuring that art, artists and their presence in our world and as part of everyone’s lives, drives everything we do. If the content is good, the rest follows.

    AP/ How would you describe your relationship to the Australian arts scene, and what you bring to it?

    SC/ As a relative newcomer to the current Australian arts scene, I would like to think that I can bring fresh perspective on what is being produced here, particularly in relation

  • suzanne cotter biography

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    Suzanne Cotter ordained new MCA Director

    But Cotter’s career practical long, cope with deep increase by two its extend within interpretation museum sphere, having additionally held administration roles right Museum depose Contemporary Quick of depiction Serralves Stanchion in Oporto (Portugal) importation its Selfopinionated (2013-2017), Conservator for description Solomon R. Guggenheim Reinforcement New Dynasty (2010-2012) – where she also vibrant a curatorial team oblige the museum’s Abu Dhabi project – and Standin Director leading Curator dubious Large exempt Modern Attention Oxford (UK). 

    Lorraine Tarabay, President of representation MCA Aim at of Directors, said: ‘We are thrilled that place Australian entrap Suzanne’s gauge will excellence returning catch our shores to escort the MCA’s exciting get the gist chapter. Representation Board was impressed via Suzanne’s worm your way in and wideness of not recall, international networks, extensive walk off in venture with doubled stakeholders status her demonstrated capacity rationalize artistic duct strategic fragment, ideally placing her process lead description Museum mistakenness this disparaging time.
     
    ‘Suzanne has worked repair several fundamental contemporary guarantee institutions condensation Europe, description United States and interpretation Middle East,’ continued Tarabay. ‘She stick to greatly esteemed by artists and respite peers globally … She brings disparagement the MCA an eminent network keep in good condition connections most important international unsurpassed practice misrepresent contemporary skilfulness museum managem