ACMI appoints global creative leader as inaugural Executive Director of Programming

ACMI appoints global creative leader as inaugural Executive Director of Programming

ACMI has appointed Keri Elmsly to the new role of Executive Director of Programming, following a global search for a talented creative leader to produce innovative programming for Australia’s national museum of screen culture.

New Zealand-born Keri was previously the NYC-based Senior Vice President of the Madison Square Garden Company’s Sphere Studios (2019-2022). Keri first encountered ACMI in her role as Chief Creative Officer at the USA’s Second Story (2015-2019), leading the US-based experience design studio’s work on the ACMI renewal in partnership with Melbourne architects BKK.

ACMI Director & CEO, Seb Chan, said: “It is with real excitement that we welcome Keri Elmsly back to the Asia Pacific region to lead our programming division. ACMI first worked with Keri during our $40m transformation project, and her ideas, international networks, and innovative approaches to creative program development were inspiring. I’m looking forward to what her energy, creativity and future-focused thinking bring not only to ACMI but to the revitalization of Melbourne as a globally connected creative city.”

In 2014, Keri produced the world’s first live drone orchestra with the founder of The Velvet Underground, John Cale, and Australian artist, Liam Young. She also orbited a fragment of moon around the Earth for artist Katie Paterson and was creative/management consultant to artists Marshmallow Laser Feast, United Visual Artists, Daisy Ginsberg, Quayola and Lucy McCrae.

Founding Elmsly Arts in 2011, Keri produced ambitious visual art and design projects worldwide. From launching the Paris-based art and music institution La Gaite Lyrique to designing Jay-Z's Blueprint III world tour, Keri collaborated with cultural organisations including Coachella Festival (California); the Barbican (London); Yamaguchi Centre for Arts & Media (Japan); Sydney Festival; and Federation Square (Melbourne).

ACMI’s incoming Executive Director of Programming, Keri Elmsly, said: “I can’t wait to celebrate and amplify incredible Australian talent by creating unique partnerships to develop world-class events that can only be born of ACMI. I have spent my life loving screen culture in every form. There are so many opportunities ahead of us with ACMI uniquely positioned in a post-renewal environment to program with agility and boldness.”

“My work with artists always explores the edges with new technologies and ideas, while my work in entertainment is a celebration of the epic and the exhilaration of being part of an audience. My work in design has also given me a deep understanding of the value of system thinking, prototyping and audience experience. ACMI is the perfect place to push the boundaries of these three intersections with its hugely talented and committed team.”

The Executive Director of Programming role was created by ACMI to lead the curatorial and programming division to ensure a compelling year-round program which anticipates, responds to, reflects and succeeds in attracting increasingly diverse audiences both locally and internationally. The role works across exhibitions, curatorial and artist commissions, film and public programming and ACMI’s industry programs including ACMI X.

Responsible for delivering a unique and distinctive ACMI-wide program, the Executive Director of Programming will generate revenue from broadly popular programs to enable the development and support of more experimental and specialist activities. The role will focus on developing and implementing a long-term strategic approach to program activity, ensuring outcomes which place ACMI at the centre of the creative industries ecology across a city, state and national level.

Keri commences her role with ACMI on 17 November 2022.

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ABOUT KERI ELMSLY:
A dynamic creative producer, Keri is known for leading and developing creative experience-driven ambitious projects and businesses for global leaders in culture, tech and art.  She was recently SVP of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Company's Sphere Studios. Working as Chief Creative Officer at Publicis’ Second Story, Keri led the experience and exhibition design for ACMI’s $40 million renewal in partnership with architects BKK. During her 20+ year career, Keri has led experience and artist studios, large-scale interactive immersive installations, blockbuster touring shows and museum projects working with a constellation of renowned global artists and arts leaders.

ABOUT ACMI:
ACMI is Australia’s national museum of screen culture. The museum reopened in February 2021 after a two-year, $40 million redevelopment – an architectural, programmatic and technological transformation. Navigate the universe of film, TV, videogames and art with ACMI. The museum celebrates the wonder and power of the world’s most democratic artform – fostering the next generation of makers, players and watchers. ACMI’s vibrant calendar of exhibitions, screenings, commissions, festivals, and industry and education programs explore the stories, technologies and artists that create our shared screen culture. More at acmi.net.au