NAVA (National Association for the Visual Arts) announced today that Esther Anatolitis will be the new Executive Director of the advocacy body. She will take up the position in late October.

Tamara Winikoff resigned as Executive Director earlier this year, after 22 years in the role.

“I’m so thrilled to be joining NAVA at this critical time for championing visual and media arts, craft and design,” says Anatolitis. “Tamara Winikoff’s tremendous legacy has set that bar high, and I’m very much looking forward to working with NAVA’s superb team.”

In the interim period NAVA has been managed by acting co-directors Brianna Munting and Penelope Benton.

Prior to joining NAVA Anatolitis worked in Victoria at Craft Victoria, Melbourne Fringe, SBS and Express Media, and Regional Arts Victoria. She holds positions on the boards of several arts organisations and writes regularly for her own blog and publications such as, Meanjin, Overland, Daily Review, Assemble Papers and Broadsheet Journal.

“Esther has long been recognised as a respected, insightful and fearless advocate for the arts,” says Tony Burke, Shadow Minister for the Arts. “Every breath of her advocacy has been underscored by the principle of keeping artists themselves at the centre of policy. Esther’s appointment is an unequivocal win for visual artists.” 

Looking forward to her new role, Anatolitis says, “NAVA’s members power the arts across our cities, suburbs and regions. Let’s lead the national cultural agenda with a confident, creative vision for Australia’s future.”