SCAPE Public Art’s new executive director, Rachel Jefferies, is excited about helping to shape the next chapter in the annual festival’s story of epic collabs between art and industry.
SCAPE Public Art installs free-to-view art in central Christchurch. At its heart, it is about bringing communities together in public spaces through contemporary art.
Rachel replaces Richard Aindow, who has taken his art admin skills to The Court Theatre as its new chief executive.
“SCAPE plays a unique role in connecting people with public art. I’m excited to build on its strong foundations and help shape what comes next,” Rachel says.
Rachel returned home to Christchurch in 2021 after performance and arts admin roles that included percussionist with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Strike, and senior management roles at the NZSO, Te Papa, and Auckland Philharmonia.
She has worked as a fundraising consultant for a range of charitable organisations. Rachel also serves on the boards of Te Ūaka The Lyttelton Museum and the Tim Bray Theatre Company, a specialist children’s theatre in Auckland.
Rachel holds a first-class honours degree in performance music from Victoria University of Wellington, a diploma in publishing from Whitireia Polytechnic, and an MBA from the University of Auckland.
Chair of the SCAPE Public Art Trust, Graham Dockrill, says SCAPE ran an exhaustive recruitment process, with the support of Brannigans, attracting a competitive field of candidates. “Rachel's breadth of skills and experience ultimately won out,” Graham says. “Rachel brings a great mix of creativity and leadership. We’re excited to have her on board as we shape the next chapter of SCAPE, grounded in the city and people we serve.”