Introducing... Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
31.5.19
The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) was established in 1846 and encompasses two major sites; the Melbourne Gardens which houses Australia's most comprehensive botanical library and Cranbourne Gardens which is dedicated to Australian plants. We spoke with Tim Entwisle, Director and Chief Executive, about the appointment of Isobel Parker Philip as guest curator for their PHOTO 2020 program.
While our focus is on plants, and how important they are to life on Earth, we present a unique blend of nature, culture and science.
Visual art is a great way for people to connect with nature and to engage with the issues that matter to us today – responding to the climate crisis, to species loss and to creating a fair and just world for all who share this planet.
We want to be not just a part of the cultural life of Melbourne but also an innovator and provocateur.
It’s a fascinating concept, truth. With science at our heart, we want our decisions as a community to be evidence-based. Photography is a way to explore that nexus between heart and mind.
We’re thrilled to be working with Isobel Parker Philip as a guest curator for RBGV’s contribution to PHOTO 2020. Isobel is the Curator of Photography at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Isobel will commission artists to create a series of staged and site-responsive installations throughout the gardens as well as an exhibition held at Domain House. Together, these two components will offer a distinctive and special art experience, unique amongst other festival sites.
It’s a first in the sense that we are part of a major visual arts festival that involves our city and state’s major cultural institutions.
Professor Tim Entwisle is a highly respected scientist, scientific communicator and botanic gardens director. He took up the role of director and chief executive of Royal Botanic Gardens in March 2013 and looks for any opportunity to promote science, plants and gardens. Tim is a frequent guest on Australian radio and a regular contributor to social media.