COUNTRY’S LARGEST MODERN ART GALLERY NEARS COMPLETION
Published Tuesday, 26 September, 2006 at 11:53 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Brisbane's new arts and cultural precinct at South Bank will provide the city with a dynamic, world class arts venue that will attract international visitors as well as Australians, Premier Peter Beattie said today.
"This new cultural precinct will bring alive the city as an arts destination,” Mr Beattie said during an inspection of the new facility with Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten and Arts Minister Rod Welford.
“When the $291 million redevelopment opens in a few weeks, it will boast Australia’s largest art museum dedicated to modern art, a welcoming and contemporary State Library twice its former size and new outdoor and green spaces which link to the river.
“The new Gallery of Modern Art will feature the first purpose-built Cinémathèque of its kind in an Australian art museum, as well as a Children’s Art Centre to support the Gallery’s internationally renowned children’s programs. (A Cinémathèque is a small cinema which showcases specific areas of screen culture).
“The Library’s new five-level facility includes an information zone with ‘hot spot’ wireless areas and free Internet access, multiple galleries and display spaces, river decks, increased reference resources and an Indigenous Knowledge Centre.
“This is Queensland’s largest cultural infrastructure project in 30 years.
“The public will get their first look at the new buildings and public spaces when the revamped State Library of Queensland opens on November 25.
“On December 2, the highly-anticipated new gallery will open its doors for the first time while the original gallery will also re-open to the public.
“The opening celebrations will culminate in a People’s Day across the Queensland Cultural Centre on December 2 to welcome the public and give people an opportunity to discover, explore and enjoy the area.”
Mr Welford said the weeks between now and the opening would be occupied by the gallery and State Library moving into their new accommodation.
“Moving at any time is a major undertaking, but when you’ve got thousands of precious cultural and historical artefacts to prepare and pack, the job is both time consuming and painstaking,” Mr Welford said.
“For the gallery, the move means preparing and packing in excess of 5500 art works from their collection for progressive relocation to the new gallery and installation of the opening exhibition, the Asia-Pacific Triennial.
“Some State Library services, collections and temporary locations will be unavailable between now and November as staff oversee the relocation of more than a million items.”
Mr Schwarten said: “Construction on the new Gallery and State Library began in 2004 and 11,700 different workers have gained work there since then.”
Media contacts: Premier’s office: 3224 4500
Minister’s office: 3237 1000
26 September 2006
"This new cultural precinct will bring alive the city as an arts destination,” Mr Beattie said during an inspection of the new facility with Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten and Arts Minister Rod Welford.
“When the $291 million redevelopment opens in a few weeks, it will boast Australia’s largest art museum dedicated to modern art, a welcoming and contemporary State Library twice its former size and new outdoor and green spaces which link to the river.
“The new Gallery of Modern Art will feature the first purpose-built Cinémathèque of its kind in an Australian art museum, as well as a Children’s Art Centre to support the Gallery’s internationally renowned children’s programs. (A Cinémathèque is a small cinema which showcases specific areas of screen culture).
“The Library’s new five-level facility includes an information zone with ‘hot spot’ wireless areas and free Internet access, multiple galleries and display spaces, river decks, increased reference resources and an Indigenous Knowledge Centre.
“This is Queensland’s largest cultural infrastructure project in 30 years.
“The public will get their first look at the new buildings and public spaces when the revamped State Library of Queensland opens on November 25.
“On December 2, the highly-anticipated new gallery will open its doors for the first time while the original gallery will also re-open to the public.
“The opening celebrations will culminate in a People’s Day across the Queensland Cultural Centre on December 2 to welcome the public and give people an opportunity to discover, explore and enjoy the area.”
Mr Welford said the weeks between now and the opening would be occupied by the gallery and State Library moving into their new accommodation.
“Moving at any time is a major undertaking, but when you’ve got thousands of precious cultural and historical artefacts to prepare and pack, the job is both time consuming and painstaking,” Mr Welford said.
“For the gallery, the move means preparing and packing in excess of 5500 art works from their collection for progressive relocation to the new gallery and installation of the opening exhibition, the Asia-Pacific Triennial.
“Some State Library services, collections and temporary locations will be unavailable between now and November as staff oversee the relocation of more than a million items.”
Mr Schwarten said: “Construction on the new Gallery and State Library began in 2004 and 11,700 different workers have gained work there since then.”
Media contacts: Premier’s office: 3224 4500
Minister’s office: 3237 1000
26 September 2006