MORE and better exhibitions at Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery are the aim for a share of $4 million being pumped into museums, galleries and cultural organisations across Victoria.
“This was a great opportunity, and we decided we have to put our hand up for this to increase our ability to deliver more shows in a better way as well as care for our collection,” gallery director Ian Tully said.
The cash will help the gallery improve its storage and display capabilities.
“The funding is focused on providing infrastructure and equipment to manage our collection better and facilitate exhibitions of a higher standard,” Mr Tully said.
“It’s scarce that there is this focus on infrastructure and equipment.”
He said storage and display was a common problem for all galleries.
“You can always improve on storage and display, but storage is an issue for pretty much every art gallery in the country. It is the big issue, and we are not immune from that.
“To better enable us to manage a collection, there’s much involved, not just storage.
“For example, we’ve got to bring the work out in an appropriate space to prepare it for an exhibition.”
Mr Tully is hopeful that in the long term this will usher more visitors through the doors.
“It’s not like we get the funding then people come through the doors – it’s a part of the bigger picture and strategy.
“It just places us in a position where we can say we’re able to take that. If you don’t have the facilities to start, touring agencies won’t loan it to you.”
“This will enable us to expand our opportunities,” Mr Tully said.
The State Government’s Regional Collections Access Program initiative will support 36 museums.
“This funding will help attract more touring exhibitions to regional Victoria and introduce more people to our incredible regional collections,” Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson said.
Other facilities, such as the Gippsland National Vietnam Veterans Museum, have also received funding.
