ABC head of arts Mandy Chang quits for BBC
Many Chang, ABC’s head of arts, is to leave the broadcaster to take up a new role as commissioning editor of BBC documentary series Storyville.
She is best known for her earlier work as a documentary filmmaker, writer and producer. Her feature The Mona Lisa Curse, which compared the unregulated trading of art to the drugs market, won an Emmy, Rose’ D’Or and Grierson for UK broadcaster Channel 4.
Chang: Sad to leave ABC
She replaces Kate Townsend, who departed in June to take up a position at Netflix.
Chang said in a statement: “I am extremely proud of the work our passionate and hardworking little arts department has commissioned, made and overseen. I’m very sad to be leaving the ABC at this exciting and crucial time in its history, but I’m also looking forward to a new challenge.”
Mandy was only appointed to her current position in January 2016 but had worked for the broadcaster for three years as arts commissioning editor overseeing programmes such as Autopsy on a Dream – the Story of the Sydney Opera House, Comic Book Heroes and Matilda and Me.
She has currently also been working as acting head of non-scripted television across entertainment, factual and live events.
Her most recent projects included David Stratton’s Stories of Australian Cinema, Stop Laughing…This Is Serious and documentary strand Artsville.
ABC’s director of television, David Anderson, said: “Mandy has been a fantastic advocate of the arts and has done an outstanding job of delivering vibrant and engaging content to all Australians over many years.
“She is highly regarded across the industry and brought a creative and innovative edge to the ABC Arts team.”
In her new role, Chang will lead factual acquisitions for BBC Content.
Clare Sillery, the BBC’s head of commissioning and documentaries, said: “She brings with her a genuine passion for and commitment to Storyville and international feature documentaries. Her work both as a film maker and more recently as a factual commissioner means she will also bring an experienced eye to acquisitions across all the factual genres.”
The Mona Lisa Curse won the International Emmy for Arts Programming for the UK’s publicly owned Channel 4.
The documentary featured Australian art critic Robert Hughes analysing the rise of contemporary art.
