Shepparton Art Museum taps new curator

By Taylah Baker

May 15, 2024

**Art work:** Danny Lacy returns to Shepparton with a long list of credentials to complement his new role. Photo by Supplied

A familiar face is returning to the Shepparton Art Museum, bringing impressive credentials and big ambitions.

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SAM announced on May 7 that it had appointed Danny Lacy as the new head of curatorial programming and collections.

“Having grown up in a regional community himself, Danny understands the importance of regional art museums and the integral part they play in the community,” SAM chief executive Melinda Martin said.

“We look forward to seeing the many contributions he will make to the organisation as he leads our curatorial and collections team.”

Mr Lacy first made his mark on the art scene as a curator at SAM between 2010 and 2012, after completing a Master of Arts (Visual Culture) and a Postgraduate Diploma of Arts (Art History and Film Studies) at Monash University.

Since then, he has actively engaged in curatorial work across various contemporary art spaces, including as director of West Space, Monash University Museum of Art program administrator, and installation and project co-ordinator at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.

In 2015, he widened his field, undertaking an Asialink Arts Management residency that saw him based in Singapore for three months.

For the past eight years, his work at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery has provided further notches on his belt, starting as a senior curator before climbing the corporate ladder to gallery director.

During this period, he steered MPRG through a phase of growth and transformation.

Mr Lacy was instrumental in developing the Mornington Peninsula’s ambitious public art project, Front Beach, Back Beach, in collaboration with Deakin University’s Public Art Commission.

Effective Tuesday, June 11, Mr Lacy will undertake his new role as head of curatorial programming and collections at SAM.

“I look forward to returning to Shepparton, engaging with the community, inspiring people through our creative programming and supporting SAM as one of the country’s most vibrant art museums,” he said.