Marian was interviewed by Museum and Heritage Studies academics Dr Chiara O’Reilly and Dr Anna Lawrenson.
Marian Simpson in Wagga Wagga Art Gallery. Exhibition Juanita McLauchlan, gii mara-bula / Heart Hand-also, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, July 2023
After graduating with a Masters of Art Curatorship in 2012, following an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts, Marian Simpson has built an impressive and multifaceted career highlighting the diverse professional pathways on offer in the arts sector.
We caught up with Marian in Wagga Wagga, where she was immersed in exhibition coordination tasks for an upcoming show organised by the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery being installed at the Museum of the Riverina. Within this role she was responsible for everything from digital imaging, producing and installing wall labels and exhibition signage, copy editing exhibition text, producing video slideshows and designing scaled digital models of exhibition layouts for installation. Each task requires a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of both the artistic and logistical aspects of curating exhibitions.
Marian’s professional development has been diverse and enriching. As she notes
I’ve had a lot of roles and I think the benefit of working in the arts is that they’re all interesting!
Volunteering at the Venice Biennale was an early career highlight that combined her passion for art with the excitement of travel. She also spent over four years as an Exhibition Manager in a regional gallery. This role provided constant challenges and forced her to think creatively about how to realise the exhibition program within the resources to hand. As a touring coordinator for Museums & Galleries of NSW, Marian enjoyed collaborating with various galleries to successfully tour shows across multiple locations delivering high quality exhibitions to a broad audience. As she notes, the exhibition process allows you to “to work directly with objects, art and artists”, which is enormously rewarding when such projects come to fruition. More recently, Marian has also been working as an installer which she describes as “really gratifying once the show is up and your work is complete.
Reflecting on her academic journey, Marian emphasises the importance of accumulated knowledge, noting that each experience “shape[s] the way we approach the next thing” so that, on reflection, her career trajectory has been “constantly changing and growing” post-university. Internships played a crucial role, providing valuable hands-on experiences and the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings. Through such placements Marian learned the importance of adaptability and continuous learning.
For current students aspiring to enter the sector, Marian offers valuable advice: “It’s important to have a goal [because] entering the sector it can be daunting” and having an outcome to work towards provides direction and motivation. She also adds however that it’s important to acknowledge that your goal may change and adapt; “the sector is constantly growing and changing so being able to change your expectations is a vital factor when growing into your career.”
Since this interview Marian has taken up a role as Assistant Registrar, Exhibitions at the Powerhouse. We know she will be continuing to hone her skills and accumulate more valuable experience there!
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