Artistic Link To Commerce And Culture
Newcastle Herald
Thursday March 27, 2008
NEWCASTLE Region Art Gallery is the custodian of one of Australia's most substantial public art collections outside the major capital cities.
The collection is deserving of an equally impressive gallery that is vibrant, inspiring as well as functional. The previous redevelopment proposal, the result of a competition, provided creative and ambitious solutions and raised the community's awareness of the gallery's priorities. Recent changes in the economic, environmental and political arenas, however, have led Newcastle City Council to reassess what is needed by both the gallery and the community at this time. In developing the new proposal, the focus is upon the gallery's key priorities: additional display space, additional storage, educational facilities and revenue-generating opportunities. The current gallery was opened in 1977 by Her Majesty The Queen and has many features that were exemplary for an art gallery of its period. However, the original building is now 30 years old and it no longer meets the needs of the collection or the expectations of the community. Modern galleries feature diverse education facilities, cafes, shops, a variety of exhibition and display galleries and secure storage. While the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney and many other Australian galleries have had several building programs to meet the demands of the viewing audience, the Newcastle Region Art Gallery has remained the same since it opened. New galleries will provide the opportunity for the important historic collection to be permanently on display; the ceramic collection one of the most significant in Australia; a works on paper gallery as well as ever-changing exhibition galleries. A lecture theatre and workshop will further enhance education programs for all ages.The community has been very active in recent years with fund-raising activities to support the gallery's redevelopment. Many Newcastle companies have also provided funds to assist the project. The gallery will explore options for revenue generation in the new proposal as there is a great opportunity to take advantage of its close proximity to the thriving Darby Street dining and shopping strip. The gallery would become the link between this commercial area and the emerging civic and cultural precinct. The importance of establishing the civic and cultural precinct has not been questioned and the gallery alongside City Hall and Civic Theatre will be the cornerstones of this precinct. The vision for this area is to create a concentration of cultural experience and a focal point for community activity, which will in turn build patronage at venues and boost tourism for the whole city.Ron Ramsey is director of Newcastle Region Art Gallery.
© 2008 Newcastle Herald