Betty Churcher interviewed by Sheridan Palmer in the Australian art from 1950 to the present oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 5011142
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Churcher, Betty, 1931-2015, interviewee
- Online Access:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2010-2011
- 2 sound files (ca. 185 min.)
- Series:
- Australian art from 1950 to the present oral history project.
- Technical Details:
- Mode of access: Online.
- Summary:
-
Betty Churcher, born in Brisbane (1931), discusses her childhood and early memories; her parents and grandmother; gender inequalities within her family; the lack of professional female role models which existed in Australia at that time; the Australian art world in the 1950s; moving to London on a travelling art scholarship (1953-6); raising money to support her studies; being determined not to return to Australia; marriage; return to Australia (ca. 1956); motherhood; the relationship between motherhood, her art and her career; the London art world in the 1960s; completing her post graduate education at the Courtauld Institute of Art (London, 1976).
Churcher discusses her work in education in Brisbane and Melbourne; visual art and academia; the importance of art history; art students today; intellectualisation of the creative process; the Melbourne academic world in 1978; the women's movement and support for professional women; the bureaucratisation of the arts industry in the 1980s; working as Deputy Chair of the Australia Council; working as Chair of the Visual Arts Board; working as the Director of the Art Gallery of Western Australia (1987-90); working as the Director of the National Gallery of Australia (1990-7); reshaping the National Gallery of Australia; the 'efficiency dividend' and staff cutbacks; the introduction of blockbuster exhibitions; the rising powers of curators; Australia's cultural image at that time; her work in television; her memory as an archive; her failing sight; her drawing skill; her desire and ability to normalise art; various artists, art administrators and critics; various colleagues, political and cultural figures; various arts institutions and organisations within Australia and globally.
- Notes:
- Recorded on 8 November 2010 and 2 March 2011 at the National Library of Australia, Canberra, A.C.T.
- Related Material:
- Portraits of Betty Churcher during an oral history interview with Sheridan Palmer at the National Library of Australia, 8 November 2010; Located at; National Library of Australia Pictures collection PIC Online access #NL40345
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary and uncorrected transcript (typescript, 128 leaves) available.
- Subject:
- Occupation:
- Art gallery directors
- Other authors/contributors:
- Palmer, Sheridan, interviewer
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Australian art from 1950 to the present oral history project.
This collection contains 9 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2080 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2010
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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