In 2006,he was awarded Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) by the University of Adelaide for the entirety of books,booklets,articles,and catalogues authored or edited by him during his career as an art curator and gallery director up to that point.[3]
From 1980 to 1988 he was curator of European and Australian Paintings and Sculpture at the Art Gallery of South Australia.[2] As director between 1990[5] and 2004,he built up the collection of Australian art,particularly from the Colonial period,developed a strong holding in Asian art and expanded the Renaissance collection.[2]
Radford was appointed director of the NGA in 2004,[6] his term starting on 20 December.[citation needed] He announced his intention to lend out Old Masters (European art,prior to the 19th century) for long-term display to state galleries. He considers the collection of less than 30 paintings,put together by Mollison to give context to the modern collection,as too small to make any impact on the public. He has been quoted as saying that the gallery should concentrate on its strengths—European Art of the first half of the 20th century,20th-century American art,photography,Asian art and the 20th-century drawing collection,and to fill the gaps in the Australian collection.[7]
Radford served on many boards and committees,including the Australia Council (chairing its Visual Arts/Craft Board from 1997 to 2002). He was a founding member of the National Portrait Gallery's board from 1997 to 2005.[2]
In 2012,he was a trustee of the Gordon Darling Foundation,a member of the Board of Art Exhibitions Australia,a director of the Bundanon Trust,and a member of the Australia International Cultural Council. He was also an affiliate professor of the University of Adelaide.[2]
The historic Ordnance Store building at AGSA,now an historical museum for the display of early South Australian paintings and objects,was later renamed the Radford Auditorium.[5]
2012?:Honorary doctorate,University of South Australia,"in recognition of his significant contributions to the art community in South Australia and nationally"[2]
2015:Honorary doctorate,University of Canberra,"for service to arts administration,particularly as Director of the National Gallery of Australia and by initiating appreciation of Australian artists and their work within the community"[6]
Publications
Radford has written a number of books on art,mainly exhibition guides,including:[8]
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