NEW GALLERY PUTS BRISBANE ON INTERNATIONAL ARTS AND CULTURE MAP
Published Friday, 01 December, 2006 at 05:00 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie will today officially open Queensland’s new Gallery of Modern Art.
”The Gallery of Modern Art is the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the redeveloped Cultural Centre at South Bank, which includes the redeveloped State Library of Queensland, the refurbished Queensland Art Gallery, Queensland Museum and Queensland Performing Arts Centre,” Mr Beattie said.
“This magnificent new gallery already boasts more than 1100 contemporary art works worth more than $8.2 million that have been acquired since 2002..
“The new gallery, the triennial exhibition and the refurbished Queensland Art Gallery will be open to the community tomorrow (Saturday 2 December).”
Mr Beattie said it was fitting that the gallery’s opening exhibition was the 5th Asia–Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art.
“Since it began in 1993, the Asia-Pacific Triennial has attracted more than half a million visitors,” Mr Beattie said.
“The economic benefits of staging world class sports events like Suncorp Stadium and the Gabba are well understood and the Asia-Pacific Triennial derives similar economic benefit from art lovers.
“There were 55,000 interstate and international visitors to the last Asia-Pacific Triennial staged in Brisbane.
“Cultural tourism is big business and the new Gallery will cement Brisbane’s place on the list of must-sees for all visitors.
“This exhibition is twice the scale of previous Triennials and will show more than 300 works, films and performances in both the Gallery of Modern Art and the Queensland Art Gallery.
“Almost 70 per cent of the works in the exhibition have been acquired for the Gallery’s Asian and Pacific collections, the world’s leading collection of contemporary Asian and Pacific art.”
Arts Minister Rod Welford said the new gallery also featured the Australian Cinémathèque, a first for an Australian art museum, and a Children’s Art Centre, which would build on the Gallery’s groundbreaking work with young audiences.
“The Children’s Art Centre inspires children to think creatively, and provides interactive arts programs aimed at children, their parents, and art teachers,” Mr Welford said.
“The Gallery of Modern Art is destined to become a truly great attraction for city visitors, and will be recognized as a public art museum that enriches its visitors’ experiences.
“I urge all Queenslanders to come and see for themselves during the special People’s Day festivities tomorrow to celebrate the official opening of our new Cultural Centre.”
Work on the Gallery of Modern Art began in May 2004. It is part of the Beattie Government’s $291 million Cultural Centre redevelopment.
The redevelopment has delivered the largest gallery of modern art in Australia, refurbishments to the original Queensland Art Gallery building, a redeveloped State Library now double its original size, and new outdoor civic and green spaces connecting to the Brisbane River.
Media contact: Premier’s office – 3224 4500
Minister’s office – 3237 1000
1 December 2006
”The Gallery of Modern Art is the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the redeveloped Cultural Centre at South Bank, which includes the redeveloped State Library of Queensland, the refurbished Queensland Art Gallery, Queensland Museum and Queensland Performing Arts Centre,” Mr Beattie said.
“This magnificent new gallery already boasts more than 1100 contemporary art works worth more than $8.2 million that have been acquired since 2002..
“The new gallery, the triennial exhibition and the refurbished Queensland Art Gallery will be open to the community tomorrow (Saturday 2 December).”
Mr Beattie said it was fitting that the gallery’s opening exhibition was the 5th Asia–Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art.
“Since it began in 1993, the Asia-Pacific Triennial has attracted more than half a million visitors,” Mr Beattie said.
“The economic benefits of staging world class sports events like Suncorp Stadium and the Gabba are well understood and the Asia-Pacific Triennial derives similar economic benefit from art lovers.
“There were 55,000 interstate and international visitors to the last Asia-Pacific Triennial staged in Brisbane.
“Cultural tourism is big business and the new Gallery will cement Brisbane’s place on the list of must-sees for all visitors.
“This exhibition is twice the scale of previous Triennials and will show more than 300 works, films and performances in both the Gallery of Modern Art and the Queensland Art Gallery.
“Almost 70 per cent of the works in the exhibition have been acquired for the Gallery’s Asian and Pacific collections, the world’s leading collection of contemporary Asian and Pacific art.”
Arts Minister Rod Welford said the new gallery also featured the Australian Cinémathèque, a first for an Australian art museum, and a Children’s Art Centre, which would build on the Gallery’s groundbreaking work with young audiences.
“The Children’s Art Centre inspires children to think creatively, and provides interactive arts programs aimed at children, their parents, and art teachers,” Mr Welford said.
“The Gallery of Modern Art is destined to become a truly great attraction for city visitors, and will be recognized as a public art museum that enriches its visitors’ experiences.
“I urge all Queenslanders to come and see for themselves during the special People’s Day festivities tomorrow to celebrate the official opening of our new Cultural Centre.”
Work on the Gallery of Modern Art began in May 2004. It is part of the Beattie Government’s $291 million Cultural Centre redevelopment.
The redevelopment has delivered the largest gallery of modern art in Australia, refurbishments to the original Queensland Art Gallery building, a redeveloped State Library now double its original size, and new outdoor civic and green spaces connecting to the Brisbane River.
Media contact: Premier’s office – 3224 4500
Minister’s office – 3237 1000
1 December 2006