2023 CEO ANNOUNCEMENT

TJC ANNOUNCES NEW CEO

The Trustees of The Johnston Collection (TJC) have announced the appointment of Dr. Louise Voll Box as the new Chief Executive Officer of the acclaimed exhibition house in East Melbourne.

Louise will commence her role in July, and brings a wealth of experience to the task given her background in art history, curatorial practice and business development. Louise is no stranger to the organisation having a long association with TJC as a speaker in the museum’s lecture program, contributor to Fairhall, the TJC house magazine, and as a committee member of the TJC Friends group. 

As an art historian, curator and educator, Louise’s research interests include 18th-century visual and decorative arts, the history of collecting, the material culture of the English country house, and business and the arts. 

Throughout a distinguished career, Dr. Box has demonstrated an unwavering passion for the arts - historical and contemporary - coupled with a great aptitude for strategic planning and innovative leadership honed through her corporate roles. Her deep understanding of both the artistic and business realms will undoubtedly shape a promising future for TJC.

“Since my first visit to TJC seventeen years ago, I’ve been passionate about this very special organisation that connects the past and present. TJC is a jewel box of fascinating Georgian and Regency fine and decorative arts and is also home to a vibrant, convivial creative community who enjoy sharing ideas and beautiful things. It is an honour and privilege to be the successor to two inspirational CEOs, Louis Le Vaillant and Nina Stanton, and to lead the next exciting chapter in the evolution of TJC in partnership with such a dedicated team of staff, volunteers, and supporters. I look forward to welcoming new visitors and communities as they discover inspiring art and experiences at TJC.”

TJC Chair, Dr. Graeme Blackman AO, also warmly welcomes Louise to the team:

"As we embark on this new journey, I encourage each and every one of you to extend your warmest congratulations to Dr. Box on her appointment. Her arrival marks a significant milestone for our organisation, and I have no doubt that her guidance will empower us to reach new heights together." 

Most recently, Dr Box has been an educator in art history and curatorship in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne. Her previous doctoral research (art history) at the university focused on the print collection of Lady Elizabeth Seymour Percy, 1st Duchess of Northumberland (1716-1776), and was recognised with a Chancellor's Prize for Excellence in the PhD Thesis.

Louise has been the recipient of the prestigious Harold Wright and Sarah and William Holmes Scholarship hosted by the Department of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum. She has also been awarded notable international grants and scholarships including a Paul Mellon Research Support Grant and a Francis Haskell Memorial Fund Scholarship for research in collections and archives in the UK, Europe, and the USA.

Louise assumes the role following the imminent departure of outgoing CEO Louis le Vaillant whose award-winning initiatives at TJC included a program of commissions in which prominent contemporary artists and designers were invited to devise spectacular ‘interventions’ in the TJC’s suites of period rooms.

 

 

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Kathryn Pappas

Administration and Communications Manager

p. 03 9416 2515

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