This week on Extraordinary Creatives, we meet Seb Chan, the visionary Director & CEO of the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). With a background in experimental music and a deep commitment to digital innovation, Seb has transformed ACMI into a multi-award-winning institution that’s redefining how we understand, experience, and engage with screen culture.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Seb shares how his early days in music shaped his belief in curiosity, accessibility, and community engagement—principles that now drive his approach to museum leadership. He takes us behind the scenes of ACMI’s radical transformation, from rethinking how we present media to planning not just for today, but for 2040 and beyond.
Seb speaks candidly about the fragmented media landscape we all live in, and why museums must do more than educate—they must spark curiosity, reflect diverse communities, and evolve with their audiences. For Seb, a museum isn’t a final destination—it’s the beginning of a journey. It’s a space for connection, exploration, and critical engagement with the stories that shape our world.
We discuss everything from designing for future generations, to embracing niche communities, to why it might be better not to be on social media. Through it all, Seb offers a compelling vision of how institutions can remain relevant, inclusive, and joyful in a world of constant change.
If you’ve ever wondered what role museums play in shaping the future—or how cultural leadership can truly empower the next generation—this episode will open up exciting new ways of thinking.
What We Learned from Seb Chan
Seb Chan challenges us to rethink what museums are for—and how they can serve as powerful spaces for collective growth, media literacy, and civic connection.
