Securing the future of the arts at ANU

Emeritus Professor David Williams AM has enjoyed a distinguished career teaching and advocating for education and the arts. His support of The Australian National University (ANU) students started when he was Director of the ANU School of Art and Design (SoAD) from 1986 to 2006, which also saw him establish the Emerging Artists Support Scheme. He continues to manifest his love for the ANU community today, and this is exemplified through two significant contributions in 2023.

David’s first gift in 2023 was a renewed commitment to the D & M Williams Travel Grant, founded by him and his late wife, Margaret, in 1980. This grant assists an undergraduate student to undertake an overseas exchange.

His second gift was towards the professional cataloguing and processing of the SoAD Collection and the appointment of a part-time Collections Officer. Thanks to David’s generosity, the Art & Design Collection Room is now well underway, under the professional management of Collections Officer Adina West. The resultant catalogue of ceramics, etchings, lithographs, screen prints, drawings and more will tell significant stories about SoAD’s history.

David also continues to support the ANU Art Collection and the Drill Hall Gallery in his role as Chair of the University Visual Arts Endowment advisory committee – on top of hosting regular campus Sculpture Walk Tours.

David’s support and love for the University are helping to both preserve the past and secure the future of the arts at ANU, for which the University is grateful.