Kris Stewart shock after Brisbane Powerhouse announces new combined role of CEO and artistic director

Kris Stewart, a respected industry figure and the face of Brisbane Powerhouse since 2013, may soon be out of a job after a shock shake up was announced.

A major shake up has been announced at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Picture: Peter Wallis

Brisbane Powerhouse artistic director Kris Stewart may well be out of a job soon following the announcement of a change of roles at the top at Brisbane Powerhouse.

It was a shock to see the board putting out an official media release (out of the blue) to say that they would soon be starting the search for “their biggest role yet” … a combined CEO and Artistic Director to “lead the next phase of artistic, commercial and precinct development of the Brisbane City Council facility.

Brisbane Powerhouse artistic director Kris Stewart.

Apparently the current CEO, Fiona Maxwell, is moving on after six years at the helm and will finish up in June. So why not just appoint Stewart, a respected figure in the industry who has been the face of the Brisbane Powerhouse since 2013?

Valmay Hill says they are “searching for someone who can master the ultimate balancing act of achieving both great artistic outcomes and business success”.

“They will lead and develop a talented and committed team in one of Australia’s most diverse and distinctive and exciting cultural precincts, a place of creativity and connection,” Hill says. We were told that Stewart’s old job will no longer exist come July and that he can apply for the new role although in these instances this is often just a mechanism for getting in new blood.

Brisbane Powerhouse CEO Fiona Maxwell.

We asked to speak to someone about this yesterday however the Brisbane Powerhouse and Stewart weren’t taking our calls but did respond to a few emailed questions. Most importantly we asked – would Kris Stewart be applying for what is, at least partly, his own job?

“The board cannot speak on behalf of Kris Stewart,” came the curt reply.

Richard Evans of REA Consulting will help the board recruit a “new” CEO/Artistic Director and applications close on April 14.

Which sounds ominous for Stewart whose current job will soon cease to exist. We’ll keep you posted.