Grant helps Art Gallery into the future
Published on 31 October 2018
Grant helps Rockhampton Art Gallery into the future
Rockhampton Art Gallery is known throughout Australia for its enviable collection of works by modern Australian artists, and now a Federal Community Heritage Grant, announced last night (Tuesday 30 October) will ensure the collection survives and prospers in to the future.
The grant of $5,950 will fund a Preservation Needs Assessment, which comes on the back of a Significance Assessment undertaken in 2016. The Significance Assessment indicated that Rockhampton Art Gallery has a collection of national importance and its preservation was a high priority.
The Rockhampton Art Gallery collection features works by modern Australian artists Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd, Charles Blackman, Judy Cassab, Kenneth Macqueen, Lloyd Rees, Russell Drysdale, Donald Friend, John Coburn, and many more.
Many of the pieces were acquired through the work of Mayor Rex Pilbeam in the mid 1970s.
Chair of Rockhampton Regional Council’s Community Services Committee Cr Rose Swadling said that a Preservation Needs Assessment was a critical step in ensuring the protection and care of the collection.
“The assessment will identify and provide advice on industry best practice on the housing, display and transportation of artworks,” she said.
“There are always exciting new developments in the care and preservation of artwork, and this assessment will lay the groundwork for the preservation of the collection for many years to come.
“It is very important to have this assessment done, particularly with the Gallery’s planned move to new, purpose built premises on Quay Street,” she said.
“Thanks to the commitment to contemporary Australian painting established by Rex Pilbeam, Rockhampton Art Gallery has a nationally renowned collection of artwork and this assessment will help us ensure it continues to be an asset to the city and available for future generations to experience,” she said.
The Preservation Needs Assessment will provide timely and vital advice on the housing and preparation for transporting the Gallery's modern and contemporary painting collection to the new gallery site.
“The Gallery is in need of specific advice on nesting and travel frames to ensure the movement is best practice, efficient and appropriately focused on the modern and contemporary painting collection's preservation needs,” Cr Swadling said.
Preservation Needs Assessment will provide opportune and highly valuable advice on the collection fit out and storage for the new site.
Rockhampton Art Gallery is owned and operated by Rockhampton Regional Council.
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