Victorian Arts Centre Trust President Tom Harley has today announced that Judith Isherwood will step down as Chief Executive of Arts Centre Melbourne.

Isherwood has been Chief Executive since 2009, overseeing some major renovations including the massive Hamer Hall refit, but her tenure has been increasingly troubled. Earlier this year the Arts Centre was forced to post an unprecedented $7 million deficit leading many to question whether Isherwood should stand aside.

Mr Harley praised Ms Isherwood’s contribution to the Arts Centre. “On behalf of the Trust, I would like to express the considerable debt of gratitude that Victorians owe to Judith,” he said. “In her four year tenure, she has overseen the incredibly complex, challenging but successful rebuild of Hamer Hall and its reopening last year.”

“Judith has also been responsible for invigorating the Centre with a comprehensive and diverse offering of programs. Through many programming activities, Arts Centre Melbourne has attracted growing and broader audiences with many people experiencing the Centre’s rich offering for the first time. Her recent work in developing a number of ambitious, long term program initiatives focused on 2015 and beyond, has been particularly valued and we are hopeful of Judith’s continuing involvement in these plans.”

Mr Harley...