About Directors
Anthony and Beverly Knight are long-time supporters of Australian artists and in particular renowned for their support of Indigenous artists and their families.
With strong business links to the wider community, their expertise and passion for the arts in general, have forged relationships of mutual benefit culminating in remarkable success stories.
BEVERLY KNIGHT
ART
Beverly Knight is a founding Director of Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne (1989-current).
Knight is renowned nationally and internationally for her keen eye for artists at the emerging and formative stage, her support of artists, in particular First Nations artists, combined with her astute business skills, and constant enthusiasm.
Her expert knowledge of all art media including sculpture, printmaking, painting, photography, and drawing combined with her curatorial skills and support from the team of curators at Alcaston Gallery, she has seen many important exhibitions and careers of artists’ flourish.
Alcaston Gallery has been called upon many times to contribute to successful exhibitions including artist retrospectives survey exhibitions by Australian public galleries and art institutions and major museums abroad.
Alcaston Gallery’s archive, dating back to the 1980s, is an incredible resource of knowledge and history of the First Nations modern art history.
Knight’s philanthropic support for artists and art institutions is widely known and highly regarded.
Knight has a degree in Art Authentication 2006 from the University of Melbourne; a significant tool in the arts.
Career highlights that bookend her career include her first exhibition at Alcaston Gallery in 1989 showcasing artwork by Emily Kame Kngwarreye and Ginger Riley Munduwalawala; Alcaston Gallery’s archive and support for the 1997 Ginger Riley retrospective at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) - a first for a First Nations artist in Australia; and in 2022/23 the solo survey exhibition of Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori at the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain in Paris, France and the Triennale Milano in Milan, Italy - a dream come true!
Knight is a member of the Australian institute of Company Directors .
Beverly Knight Art + Business is an arm’s length consultancy business specialising in business projects for artists and the Agencies for Estates of Artists including the Estate of Ginger Riley and Agent for the Estate of Sally Gabori Art.
SPORT
Beverly Knight has been a trailblazer in supporting First Nations sport especially Australian Football League (AFL). She has been the guardian mother of several young indigenous boys and girls from the Northern Territory and Tiwi Islands over a long period of time, enabling them to be educated and support their interest in sport.
Knight was a director of the Essendon Football Club (EFC) 1993 - 2010, the first female to be elected to an AFL club board, and she retired in December 2010 after 17 years. In 2010, Knight chaired the EFC Nomination and Governance Committee resulting in her leading the way stepping down, allowing appointed Directors from a wide range of skilful candidates to take their place on the Board for the first time in the clubs 150 year history.
Knight was a director of AFL Sportsready 1995 - 2009, and oversaw the development of the company to train professional young men and women in all aspects of sport administration all over Australia. Developing career opportunities for AFL players whilst playing, but also post-career, had been a focus; so too the successful training of First Nations young people. In 2013, AFL Sportsready Pty Ltd introduced ArtsReady, an education and employment traineeship for young people interested in a career in the arts.
In 2009, Knight became the first Essendon Football Club director appointed a position on the Tiwi Bombers Football Club Board in Darwin representing the Tiwi players and the people from Bathurst and Melville Island in the Northern Territory. In 2010 she also became the Treasurer of the club. During her time at the Tiwi Bombers, Governance and accountability grew but most importantly Tiwi Bombers won the NTFL Premiership in 2012 after only 5 years in the league. Knight did not seek re-election in 2013 year due to work commitments.
Knight 's commitment to sport, especially with regards to AFL and the Essendon Football Club, is a family trait. Her late grandfather Tom Stephens was also a director of Essendon Football Club , and president of the EFC 2nd eighteen and the Essendon Club.
ANTHONY KNIGHT
Anthony Knight is a founding Director of Alcaston Gallery (1989 - current)
Knight is a recognised creative talent sought for his public speaking, curatorial and private collection management skills. Knight’s innovative ideas that create opportunities especially visually exciting historic houses and buildings date back to the 1960's in Melbourne when he set up the first discotheques in Australia offering significant opportunities for live music bands and singers. Sebastian's and Bertie’s gave so many (now famous) bands their start and Australia's live music industry began. Tony (Anthony) Knight was a total trailblazer!
Knight instigated, developed and is the managing consultant to the decorative arts museum, Beleura House and Garden at Mornington, Victoria. Music is also a key feature supporting Australian National Music Academy (ANAM).
Knight is a Director of the Tallis Foundation, a charitable Trust involved in the decorative arts, and former Board member of the Council of the National Trust of Australia, Victoria and Member of the International Attingham Society.
In 2007, Knight was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for service to heritage conservation and the arts in Victoria, particularly through the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and associated organisations, and through the promotion of First Nations art.
Beverly Knight
Anthony Knight
