Qtopia Sydney has appointed arts and cultural leader Cecily Hardy as its new Chief Executive Officer, as the organisation focuses on sustaining and growing its role in Sydney’s cultural and community life.
Hardy was Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer of physical theatre company Legs On The Wall for six years, leading its artistic and organisational renewal. Most recently, she was Executive Producer of the Festival of Dangerous Ideas and Director of Public Programs at The Ethics Centre. Her career has spanned major festivals, nationally and internationally touring work, and cultural projects developed with communities across Australia and the globe.
Since opening in February 2024, Qtopia Sydney has established a permanent home for LGBTQIA+ history and culture. Hardy’s appointment will see the precinct build on those foundations, expanding opportunities for community, artists and audiences to gather, create and contribute to Sydney’s cultural life.
“This is an important moment for Qtopia Sydney, and Cecily is exactly the leader to take us into it. Her track record of building sustainable, artistically ambitious cultural organisations grounded in community has us genuinely excited for what Qtopia Sydney can become as a cultural institution of national significance,” said the Qtopia Sydney Board on the appointment.
Hardy said Qtopia Sydney had an important role to play not only in preserving and sharing LGBTQIA+ history, but in contributing to the cultural life of Sydney today. “Qtopia Sydney exists because people fought to make sure our stories would be remembered,” said Hardy.
“As the daughter of someone who protested one year on from 1978, that history matters deeply to me. As Sydney loses queer spaces, Qtopia has a chance to be somewhere everyone in our communities can gather, create, look to the future, and feel safe.”
“I’m excited by what Qtopia Sydney can become as a cultural space people return to again and again. There is enormous opportunity ahead to bring fresh energy, ideas and vision to the precinct, while staying firmly rooted in community, and recognising everything that has already been created here,” said Hardy.
Qtopia Sydney is located at 301 Forbes Street, Darlinghurst, the site of the former Darlinghurst Police Station where participants in the first Sydney Mardi Gras were detained in 1978. For more information about Qtopia Sydney, visit: www.qtopiasydney.com.au for details.
Image: Cecily Hardy – courtesy of Qtopia Sydney