Leaving big shoes to fill, Aanya Whitehead has stepped up to the mark and is ready to continue bolstering the creative community.

Meeting in Griffith on Tuesday, Dr Motion reminisced on his time at WRA and Ms Whitehead shared her aspirations for the future.

With 30 years in the arts world under her belt and a background in filming, Ms Whitehead says she is prepared to foster the local art community.

"I think I really responded to the job because I felt I could help and support and develop artists here," she explained.

"We don't do anything without designers, crafts people, practitioners, artists, engineers, we all need that creative element in our life and community."

She has recently moved to Narrandera and is looking forward to immersing herself in country life, however her family hail from the town so there is a sense of connection already.

Being in the position for as long as he has, Dr Motion's highlights are too numerous to list, but says it has all been incredibly rewarding.

Yet for Griffith, what stands out for him is the most recent partnership projects with the Griffith Art Gallery especially with an indigenous arts focus, including 'Murrumbidgee Marramarra', 'Yield' and 'Willandra Three Rivers' exhibitions.

"The thing about artists in this area is the strong sense of community," he said.

"Being disadvantaged by our remoteness, the artists here really band together and support one another, they are all incredibly linked."

Dr Motion is handing over the reins to move to Wagga Wagga to be closer to family.

"As the director, we really strive to connect with people and connect them with others. That's the way we can really enrich the art experience in the Western Riverina."

Coming in with the dissolution of the Department of Arts, Ms Whitehead says artists always find a way to thrive, while ministers and departments come and go.

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She says government interest is a "cyclical experience".

"I think in Australia we've had periods of time where the arts have been dropped down in priority," she explained.

"I think it's something we can do at our own level.

"We need to support artists, but my job as a practitioner and now director, is really not to take on that agenda because the agenda for me is and has always been to support the artists with the resources at hand."

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