To mark the 50th anniversary of the United Nations International Women's Year (IWY) the 2025 Betty Churcher AO Memorial Oration celebrates diverse voices and the contributions of artists internationally. Join us for a conversation between ground-breaking feminist artist Judy Chicago and award-winning author and art historian Katy Hessel. Recorded across two continents, delve into Chicago’s experiences as a woman artist from the 1960s to today, how gender has shaped her art and career, and what still needs to be done for gender equality in the arts.

Painter, teacher, art critic, television host, author and gallery director, Betty Churcher AO (1931-2015) was part of the lifeblood of the visual arts in Australia. While her father believed ‘education spoiled a girl’, Churcher fought to complete her studies, further her education in London, and to forge a path for women to take positions of authority in the arts in Australia. She was the first woman to head a tertiary institution, become director of a state gallery, and to lead the National Gallery of Australia.

Affectionately dubbed ‘Betty Blockbuster’ for her love of bringing major international exhibitions to Australia, Churcher was passionate about making art relevant and accessible. In honour of her legacy, every year since 2022 the Gallery has hosted the Betty Churcher AO Memorial Oration, featuring leading women in the arts who inspire creativity, inclusivity, engagement and learning.

Judy Chicago is an American feminist artist, art educator, and author known for her large-scale installation pieces, which examine the role of women in history and culture. During the 1970s, Chicago founded the first feminist art program in the United States at California State University, Fresno.

Katy Hessel is an art historian, curator, broadcaster and author of The Story of Art without Men. She runs @thegreatwomenartists, an Instagram account that celebrates women artists and hosts The Great Women Artists podcast.

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Join Director of Tate, UK, Maria Balshaw CBE, for an excerpt from her 2023 Betty Churcher AO Memorial Oration.

Painter, teacher, art critic, television host, author and gallery director, Betty Churcher AO (1931-2015) was part of the lifeblood of the visual arts in Australia. While her father believed ‘education spoiled a girl’, Churcher fought to complete her studies, further her education in London, and to forge a path for women to take positions of authority in the arts in Australia. She was the first woman to head a tertiary institution, become director of a state gallery, and to lead the National Gallery of Australia.

Affectionately dubbed ‘Betty Blockbuster’ for her love of bringing major international exhibitions to Australia, Churcher was passionate about making art relevant and accessible. In honour of her legacy, every year since 2022 the Gallery has hosted the Betty Churcher AO Memorial Oration, featuring leading women in the arts who inspire creativity, inclusivity, engagement and learning.

As we count down to the 2025 oration – featuring feminist artist Judy Chicago in conversation with art historian Katy Hessel – we revisit these orations from women who share Churcher's groundbreaking spirit.

Maria Balshaw was appointed as Director of Tate in 2017, and like Betty Churcher, was the first woman to hold this position. A champion of inclusivity, under Maria’s leadership Tate has reframed its global context including elevating the climate crisis, gender equity, and decolonisation. You can view Maria's entire oration here: https://nga.gov.au/on-demand/betty-churcher-memorial-oration-2023/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Painter, teacher, art critic, television host, author and gallery director, Betty Churcher AO (1931-2015) was part of the lifeblood of the visual arts in Australia. While her father believed ‘education spoiled a girl’, Churcher fought to complete her studies, further her education in London, and to forge a path for women to take positions of authority in the arts in Australia. She was the first woman to head a tertiary institution, become director of a state gallery, and to lead the National Gallery of Australia.

Affectionately dubbed ‘Betty Blockbuster’ for her love of bringing major international exhibitions to Australia, Churcher was passionate about making art relevant and accessible. In honour of her legacy, every year since 2022 the Gallery has hosted the Betty Churcher AO Memorial Oration, featuring leading women in the arts who inspire creativity, inclusivity, engagement and learning.

As we count down to the 2025 oration this International Women’s Day – featuring feminist artist Judy Chicago in conversation with art historian Katy Hessel – we revisit past orations from women who share Churcher's groundbreaking spirit.

In this episode, you’ll hear from another Australian trailblazer: Dame Quentin Bryce, Australia's 25th and first female Governor-General. Dame Quentin devoted attention to social justice and human rights issues, placing special emphasis on promoting and protecting the rights of the country’s First Nations peoples.

Recorded during her lecture in Canberra in 2024, Bryce reflects on the life and legacy of her friend Betty Churcher and celebrates the contributions of women in the arts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.