About—
Sydney Contemporary is Australasia’s premier art fair – the largest and most diverse gathering of leading contemporary art galleries from Australia, New Zealand, Asia and around the world.
Staged at Carriageworks, Australia’s largest multi-arts centre, the Fair welcomes over 95 emerging and established galleries, showcasing the work of over 500 artists presenting the best in contemporary and modern art.
Sydney Contemporary is the pre-eminent meeting place for the art world to engage with diverse practice. The Fair provides a critical platform to exhibit vibrant, ambitious and cutting-edge art from emerging and established artists to audiences from Australasia, including private and corporate collectors, high net-worth VIPs, institutional and museum directors and curators, art advisors, media and new art buyers. With a thriving art scene and sophisticated collector base, Sydney the financial capital of Australia and a dynamic cultural destination with an international reputation, home to significant public institutions, private museums and foundations, leading commercial galleries and the internationally renowned Biennale of Sydney, and newly opened Sydney Modern.
Alongside the gallery sectors, the curated program presents a showcase of the very best in contemporary art, current trends and emergent practices – installations, performances, an ambitious program of talks, guided tours, educational workshops, artist talks, the highly anticipated Art Night celebration and an exclusive VIP Program. Additionally, the Fair is home to bars, cafes and restaurants, making it an all-encompassing experience. Billed as one of the most celebrated events on Australia’s cultural calendar, Sydney Contemporary is a must-attend art event and the perfect place to discover and collect modern and contemporary art.
The Team
Tim Etchells
Founder
Tim Etchells has spent the last 30 years creating and managing Events and Fairs all over the world. From The Good Food Shows to London Fashion Week to Art HK, Tim has worked in numerous different industry sectors across different countries. In 2008 Tim developed the idea to stage Art HK which became the largest art fair in Asia, and is now under the ownership of MCH and renamed Art Basel Hong Kong. In 2013 Tim launched Sydney Contemporary initially on a biannual basis. Having established itself as the largest international art fair in Australasia, Sydney Contemporary moved to an annual cycle in 2017. Tim’s art fair portfolio includes ART SG (Singapore), Taipei Dangdai (Taiwan) and Art Central (Hong Kong). In 2016 Tim received two separate Lifetime Achievement Awards from the UK Exhibition industry.
Jo Duncan
CEO
Jo Duncan brings extensive experience to Sydney Contemporary from launching and working across a range of high-profile consumer events. Jo helped to successfully launch a range of events in new markets globally including the Good Food and Wine shows nationally across Australia and has worked on a range of other events across Australia, the UK and Asia including London Fashion Week, Melbourne Art Fair, Fashion Week Sydney, Taste of Sydney and Melbourne, the Affordable Art Fairs and Better Homes and Gardens Live. Jo oversees all operational, marketing and gallery needs for Sydney Contemporary.
Contact: jo@artfairsaustralia.com.au
Zoe Paulsen
Fair Director
Zoe Paulsen is an experienced arts professional with a demonstrated history of successfully delivering multiple contemporary art fairs in Australia, including The Other Art Fair (Sydney, Melbourne), Can’t Do Tomorrow (Australia’s largest street art festival – Melbourne), the Affordable Art Fair (Sydney) and the Incognito Art Show (Sydney).
Zoe has a Bachelor of Arts, Media and Communications from the UNSW and began her professional career as a TV Producer in the advertising industry. Zoe has been an MCA Next committee member since the group’s inception in 2010. The program advocates for the institution, encouraging philanthropic engagement and support for the contemporary art sector.
Zoe believes that a supported cultural sector is key to building a more resilient and well-rounded society. Motivated by the success of past creative endeavours, Zoe is excited to continue with her contribution to this all-important sector.
Contact: zoe@artfairsaustralia.com.au
Lyn Moran
Finance Director
Lyn Moran joined Art Fairs Australia as Finance Director in 2014. After graduating from the University of Georgia (USA), she spent 7 years traveling as Touring Company Manager for Australian children’s group, The Wiggles, before settling in Australia and working on the production side of several international TV programs, including The Amazing Race and The Real Housewives franchises, as well as on live events with IMG Australia and Single Market Events. Overseeing Sydney Contemporary as General Manager from 2018-2022, Lyn has now relocated to the US where she continues to lead on all financial and business matters.
Contact: lyn@artfairsaustralia.com.au
Erin Kent
Head of Partnerships
Erin is an experienced director in strategic partnerships with a demonstrated history of working with fashion, art, interior and lifestyle brands, along with non-profit organisations. Erin has worked with some of the world’s most coveted brands through her positions at the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in New York and Endeavor in Los Angeles. Before joining the team, Erin ran her own consultancy company providing business development guidance for start-up and established brands. Skilled in all aspects of brand positioning and consumer engagement strategy, Erin has been instrumental in growing and deepening Sydney Contemporary’s mission to bring together the most aligned luxury brands to the mutual benefit of the contemporary art scene.
Contact: erin@artfairsaustralia.com.au
Rowena Talacko
Head of VIP Relations
With a background in film production, working for the Australian Film Commission and on internationally renowned feature films such as Muriel’s Wedding and Strictly Ballroom. Rowena then went on to establish a career in the visual arts. Alongside her work for Sydney Contemporary, Rowena manages The Laverty Collection, one of Australia’s most significant private art collections; She also runs a consultancy service, The Art Collection Manager. Rowena has also worked as an Art Consultant at Artbank, working with clients to showcase carefully chosen artworks.
Contact: rowena@artfairsaustralia.com.au
India Ford
Fair Manager
India joined Sydney Contemporary as VIP Relations Liaison upon returning to Sydney, before transitioning into the position of Fair Manager. With an MA in History of Art from the University of Edinburgh, integrated with a background in contemporary and Indigenous Australian art previously working for Utopia Art Sydney, India’s perspective is rooted in an international context. She has also held a range of sales and administrative positions within the events, high-end hospitality, nonprofit, and financial services industries.
Contact: india@artfairsaustralia.com.au
Bonnie Lee
Marketing Executive
Bonnie joins Sydney Contemporary from Auckland, New Zealand, where she concurrently works as the Marketing Manager of the Aotearoa Art Fair. Since completing her Fine Arts degree, Bonnie has held curatorial, administrative, and communication roles at various public galleries, and went on to play a pivotal role in the expansion of ArtNow. Outside of her role, Bonnie runs an online bookstore which aims to increase the visibility of arts publishing in New Zealand.
Contact:
bonnie@artfairsaustralia.com.au
Diana Chen
Operations Manager
Diana is an event specialist with 18+ years of experience in B2B and public events, exhibitions, and experiences. With tertiary qualifications in design, her career began in the art departments of film & television productions. She then transitioned her skills to events and exhibitions and has been involved in productions across Australia and Asia, in industries including automotive, telecommunications, not-for-profit, and the arts. Diana is a problem solver with a passion for creativity and tackling new challenges.
Contact:
diana@artfairsaustralia.com.au
2024 Advisory Council
Sue Cato
Principal, Cato & Clive
Sue has been a leader in corporate communications and issues management for over 20 years and is an avid art collector. She is a board member of Carriageworks and is a member of Chief Executive Women. Sue is a regular panelist on ABC TV’s The Drum and on the 2UE Breakfast Show and is a commentator on business issues for the national press.
Nick Tobias
Principal, Tobias Partners
Alexie Glass-Kantor
Executive Director, Artspace, Sydney
Alexie Glass-Kantor is a curator, cultural producer, and advocate for the arts. She is the Executive Director at Artspace, Sydney. As an advocate for the cultural sector she is on several boards, including Contemporary Art Organisations Australia (CAOA); Academic Board, National Art School, and Sydney Culture Network.
Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes Art Advisory
Mark Hughes is a leading art advisor with over two decades experience working in commercial galleries in Sydney and New York. Mark has represented artists from all over the globe and collaborated on exhibitions with many of the world’s leading museums including the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Whitney Museum of American Art New York, Centre Pompidou Paris, and the Tate Gallery London.
Evan Williams
CEO, Williams Land Limited
Evan founded Williams Land Limited after a successful career as a commercial lawyer with one of New Zealand’s preeminent law firms. Williams Land is a land development firm committed to preserving the legacy of the environments it develops. A passionate advocate for arts, culture and heritage, Evan sits as Chair of the Board of the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa.
Lucy Turnbull AO
Former Lord Mayor of Sydney
Lucy is a businesswoman, philanthropist, and former local government politician. She served on the Sydney City Council from 1999 to 2004, becoming the city’s first female Lord Mayor in 2003. Lucy has also contributed to urban planning bodies, including as chief commissioner of the Greater Sydney Commission from 2015 to 2020. Her husband, Malcolm Turnbull, was Australia’s prime minister from 2015 to 2018.
Careers
Sydney Contemporary Volunteers
Sydney Contemporary is seeking friendly and enthusiastic volunteers to assist in daily operations during the sixth edition of the fair. Volunteering at Sydney Contemporary is a fantastic way for anyone with an interest in arts and events to get involved with a flexible, rewarding, short-term commitment. Whether you are a supporter of the arts, a student, or a creative, the Sydney Contemporary volunteer program has a lot to offer.
To apply complete the Application Form below. Please note, must be over 18 years old to apply.
