Anna Moreau chats with Helen Morgan, director of Turner Galleries (nine years).
WABN: Describe a day at work.
HM: "I am happy to say that my days at work are pleasantly varied from the mundane to the marvellous.
A creative approach to problem solving is always required." WABN: What is the best piece of advice you can give someone to motivate a team? HM: "Make sure everyone knows what the task at hand is and what outcome is required, and then rely on everyone's expertise to make it all happen.
It is important to recognise and respect everyone's contribution and celebrate successes." WABN: What has been the most challenging event in your career? HM: "My career in the arts is only nine years young.
There have been many unrelated challenges for me in the past, including being a mother of three daughters.
Possibly the biggest demand on my patience and skills was teaching in the field of special education.
I think teaching and motherhood made me a good communicator and negotiator." WABN: What is the main quality you are looking for within your team members? HM: "People with a passion for visual art.
People who don't mind pushing up their sleeves and tackling the necessary but unpleasant tasks.
People with different skills and personalities who will create a balance within the team, and most definitely people who have greater skills and abilities than I do." WABN: What's the best measurement of your performance, and can you name a highlight in your career? HM: "In the running of a commercial art gallery, our job is to act as agent for the artist.
We like to see lots of people attending exhibitions.
We like to make generous sales for the artists and have exhibitions that result in positive critical review.
If these things happen, we have done our job well.
"It's more of an ongoing focus than a highlight, but the creation of Art Angels - a support group that sponsors residencies and exhibitions for eastern states artists - has developed relationships with collectors and opened up exciting future possibilities with artists and their galleries in other states.
It has broadened our activity to a national level." WABN: How do you deal with egos in your workplace? HM: "Make room for them and try to have the wisdom to know when my own ego is getting in the way of progress." WABN: Is there an organisation or business model that you strive to achieve? HM: "We like to stay just outside the norm.
I think if you tread a well-worn path you will only end up in wellknown places." WABN: What frustrates you the most about your sector and what would you do to change it? HM: "I think my challenge is to introduce more companies and individuals to art collecting.
This will be the focus for the gallery for the next five years." WABN: What are the specific hurdles that you meet on a daily basis in your sector? How do you deal with them? HM: "Although art collectors would rather go without real food in order to feed their souls, most non collectors have art much further down their 'must have' lists.
I would like to change that.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if every household had at least one fabulous piece of original artwork in it?"
