CEO announcement (Oct 2024)

After more than a decade with SALA, Kate Moskwa has decided to step down from her role as CEO to pursue a new opportunity at the University of Adelaide, where she will manage Special Collections and Archives.

SALA Chair Alexandrea Cannon said, “on behalf of the SALA Board, I express our gratitude to Kate for her dedication to and passion for Australia’s only open-access festival for living artists.

I acknowledge that Kate’s vision and passion for the arts have not only enhanced the opportunities for SALA but have also embedded this beloved Festival into the fabric of our community. Her contributions have been invaluable, and her efforts have solidified SALA as a cornerstone of South Australia’s cultural landscape.”

Reflecting on her journey with SALA, Kate shared, “I feel incredibly privileged to have been the custodian of South Australia’s treasured SALA Festival and to have worked alongside thousands of talented artists. SALA is an iconic festival that holds a unique place in our State’s annual calendar, and it has been my joy to collaborate with our dedicated arts community to nurture and grow this cultural gem. I am immensely grateful to all the SALA staff and board members, our partners, industry peers, and most importantly, the artists whose creativity enriches our lives and strengthens our communities.”

As Kate transitions into this new chapter, we welcome to the helm Bridget Alfred who acted as Interim CEO whilst Kate was on Parental leave, overseeing two very successful Festival seasons.

We have seen SALA grow from strength to strength, with record numbers of participating artists registering and many new initiatives credited to Bridget. Wonderfully, Bridget was pivotal in moving SALA to our new ‘home’, within the ILA (Immersive Light and Art) complex, a relationship that will certainly enable future projects and initiatives to thrive.

Bridget is looking forward to continuing the legacy of excellence that Kate has established and is eager to engage with you as we plan for future Festivals.

Bridget shared, “I am thrilled to take on the role of CEO for the SALA Festival. Kate’s work has set a high standard and was always centred on benefitting SA’s artists, I am committed to furthering this vision for SALA while fostering our vibrant arts community. Together with the small dedicated SALA team, I look forward to inspiring and engaging audiences across South Australia and beyond.”

We are excited about the future of the SALA Festival and look forward to continuing to build this unique visual arts Festival to our State in 2025 and beyond.

Kate Moskwa & Bridget Alfred at the 2022 SALA Slide Night, photo: Juan Van Staden