1991

1991 was a year of big organisational changes. ACCA became affiliated with Monash University in January 1991. Mal Logan, Chairman of ACCA’s Board and Vice-Chancellor of Monash, described the new joint management as something that “can only stand to benefit Australian contemporary art”. The Director of the Monash University Gallery, Jenepher Duncan, became the new Director of ACCA and administration was shared between both organisations. The much needed support and infrastructure provided by the Monash affiliation also enabled ACCA to appoint Assistant Director, Juliana Engberg. Richard Conigrave, Peter Wade, Dr John Welchman, Loti Smorgon and John Ridge joined the ACCA Board, and Lyn Williams and Billy Kelly retired. ACCA continued to receive funding from the Victorian Ministry for the Arts and the Visual Arts/Crafts Board of the Australia Council, as well as raising income from private and corporate sponsorship and membership dues. The possibility of ACCA’s expansion was on the agenda again. Stage 3 development plans for ACCA proposed a three story building that would increase the Centre’s space ‘six fold’. (interestingly the unrealized blueprints look somewhat similar to our present building). However, Melbourne City Council opposed the proposal, suggesting instead that the Centre be relocated to the ‘arts precinct’