The ATW welcomes Sophie Travers as new Director.

The Board of the ATW is delighted to announce the appointment of new Director/CEO Sophie Travers, who will join the workshop on 8 May 2023.

Sophie joins the ATW from Collingwood Yards, where as CEO she was fortunate to work with some of Melbourne’s most dynamic artists and creative organisations among a vibrant local community in Melbourne’s inner north.

“I am honoured to be invited to join the team at the Australian Tapestry Workshop. I have long admired the diverse and vibrant projects led by former Director Antonia Syme AM, and the gorgeous tapestries the weavers and collaborating artists produce. I am excited to engage with the rich opportunities to work locally, nationally, and internationally and hope to add my energy and ideas to the constantly evolving program.”

ATW Chair, Professor Su Baker AM, said:

“We look forward to introducing Sophie to the wonderful ATW community in the months ahead. Marking the beginning of a vibrant new era for the Australian Tapestry Workshop. The team at the ATW is excited to welcome Sophie as she helps take the Workshop from strength to strength, building on the remarkable work of Antonia Syme AM."

Before Collingwood Yards, Sophie held leadership roles at the City of Melbourne, Australia Council for the Arts, and several British arts organisations. She has worked internationally from Berlin, Brussels and London and brings to the ATW a diverse range of relationships with international artists and arts institutions. Sophie is a member of Deakin University's Arts and Cultural Management Advisory Board and Board Director at TarraWarra Museum of Art and Chunky Move.

“I am honoured to be invited to join the team at the Australian Tapestry Workshop. I have long admired the diverse and vibrant projects led by Director Antonia Syme AM, and the gorgeous tapestries the weavers and collaborating artists produce. I am excited to engage with the rich opportunities to work locally, nationally, and internationally and hope to add my energy and ideas to the constantly evolving program.”

Sophie speaks six languages, holds a first class Honours degree from Cambridge and has written extensively for arts journals in Australia and the UK. She moved to Australia in late 2003, after living and working in more than a dozen cities worldwide.