Reference from the Gallery Director

1. Upper Fort Street, Observatory Hill
Millers Point, NSW 2000
GPO BOX 518
Sydney NSW 2001
T +61 2 9258 0123 F +61 2 9251 1110
www.nationaltrust.org.au/nsw
The National Trust of Australia (New South Wales)
ABN 82 491 958 802
March 2017
I have known Antony Skinner since he first commenced volunteering at the National Trust S.H. Ervin
Gallery in early 2016 following the conclusion of his Museum Studies course at the University of
Sydney. Antony volunteered in the Gallery as an invigilator/ information desk role and in addition
offered to assist at the time of exhibition installation to further his hand-on experience.
Antony displayed great enthusiasm for acquiring further experience and knowledge so when my
colleague decided to undertake extended leave in mid-2016 I invited Antony to backfill as full-time
Curatorial Assistant/ Administrator position on a 6 month fixed term contract from mid-July 2016.
Ultimately the contract was mutually extended until 3 March 2017 when Antony returned to tertiary
studies.
During this time the role that Antony undertook involved working with the volunteer personnel
including coordination and management of the volunteer program, recruitment and training of new
volunteers, maintaining the roster of volunteers, arranging volunteer excursions and distribution of
newsletter. Antony also was involved in the successful transition to a new point of sale system and
worked closely with the volunteers to train them in the new front of house procedures. Antony was
popular with the volunteers and established productive relationships with them.
Antony was also responsible for the financial reporting of the Gallery’s day to day operations and
worked closely with our accounts department providing attendance and income reports and
compiling the weekly banking.
The role also involved curatorial assistance, particularly at the time of exhibition changeover, and
involved compiling information for wall labels and floor sheets, as well as assisting with exhibition
installation. Antony also took responsibility for monitoring the environmental conditions in the
exhibition space and the collection store and taking action when required.
Antony also successfully acted as the award administrator for the Portia Geach Memorial Award
which involved dealing with enquires from artists, managing the online portal, compiling entries and
tracking payments.
Antony was also responsible for the updating of information for the Gallery website and images for
the Gallery’s Instagram account and during his tenure public engagement in this platform increased
substantially.
In my experience I have found Antony to be professional, courteous and able to take initiative with
new projects. His enthusiasm and passion for visual art is clear as is his determination to pursue a
career in the arts. I would recommend him for any appropriate position within the arts industry.
Yours sincerely
Jane Watters
Director, S.H. Ervin Gallery