LARGER exhibitions such as the coveted Archibald Prize could be lured to the region when the Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery is redeveloped, director Ian Tully says.
The gallery at Horseshow Bend has been in dire need of expansion for years, with a growing permanent collection too often being left unseen.
Mr Tully spoke to The Guardian about progressing the redevelopment after Swan Hill Council last month received approval from funding partners for two new single storey buildings – the art gallery redevelopment and the Swan Hill tourism and cultural hub at Pioneer Settlement.
Mr Tully said a dedicated education space was “critically” required on top of storage and exhibition space.
“We need to have the appropriate space and space built to appropriate standards so that we can put our hands up for whatever exhibition may be available,” he said.
“An exhibition that comes to mind is the Archibald Prize. It’s very competitive to secure, but we don’t have a big enough space to put such an exhibition to even consider it.”The redevelopment plans follow the demise of the controversial all-in-one $10.9 million Our Place project within the Pioneer Settlement grounds, which was dumped last year after the Pioneer Settlement was heritage-listed.
Council voted in September to proceed with concept planning and detailed designs for the new Pioneer Settlement entry building and expanded art gallery.
That approval has now been granted.But the meeting heard construction of the buildings – to be progressed using Our Place grants and matching funds from council – hinged on Federal Government approval of a request for an extra 18 months to complete the work.
The art gallery will be redeveloped on its current site, increasing its capacity to host major exhibitions and visitor attractions and creating new engagement and public spaces.
Mr Tully declined to be drawn into the Our Place saga, instead focusing on the future.
“We have always been supportive of what needed to happen, and now we move into a new position and support that fully too,” he said.
“There is history there, like most buildings that had community input into them, and I think such a building as an art gallery has a collective sense … of a special building.
“It’s not unlike the town hall because it’s about engaging community and having a place to go, to take a family and visitors and participate in a whole range of activities.
“They’re important civic buildings, not forgetting what they do – bringing cutting-edge, contemporary, significant art to the region and supporting artists in this region so they can show their work in a professional setting.”
Mr Tully said the expansion had been on the cards for a “long, long time”.
“My predecessor, it was part of her original position to further investigate expansion of the art gallery,” he said.
“For a long time, it’s been recognised as not being large enough to suitably accommodate a growing permanent collection as well as being able to house temporary (packing) crates, gallery furniture and all that goes with producing and putting on exhibitions and programs.”
The Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery was established in 1966. It opened in its current building, designed by Australian architect Ian Douglas, in 1987.
Mr Tully said the exhibition space was also inadequate for what’s expected of a recognised museum or gallery.
“Which we are – and to maintain that accreditation, it’s crucial we are able to house visiting collection and display as well,” he said.
The gallery is a member of the Public Galleries Association of Victoria.
“With the permanent collection, we might not always be able to display because a touring exhibition, for example, may require the entire gallery footprint,” Mr Tully added.
“We are compromised what we can display and we want to be able to share the permanent collection as it grows and have that on a rotating display so when people come from Melbourne to see our collection, they aren’t disappointed and can enjoy that space.
“We need the extra space because we have a growing program and got more participatory programs that we are running.”
Mr Tully said the current location of the art gallery made it an opportunity to capitalise on.
“We already have the floor space there and other assets, such as the loading dock that we can take advantage of.”
Mr Tully urged the community to have their say on the future of the gallery through the design process with council.
“The more ideas, the more options that become available for architects,” he said.
“There has been an enormous amount of work down over the years with concept designs with a range of architects, art consultants and experts, so now we are keen to get new ideas thrown in there as well.
“We just want to see a building that can accommodate a range of different programs.”
Have your say at letstalk.swanhill.vic.gov.au/swan-hill-art-gallery-redevelopment
Consultation closes on February 28 at 9am.
