Gallery Services Visual Arts Strategy

s

collections management

art in public spaces creative communities creative classrooms

creative spaces

exhibitions Visual Arts Strategy

Planning Horizon 2013 - 2016

Contents 1. Alignment

2

2. Background

5

3. Objectives

8

4.

Exhibitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

4.1 Stakeholders

10

4.2 Exhibition Categories

10

5. Collections Management

13

5.1 Stakeholders

13

5.2 Areas of Specialisation

14

6. Art In Public Spaces

18

6.1 Stakeholders

18

6.2 Framework Development

19

7. Creative Classrooms

20

7.1 Stakeholders

20

7.2 Programs

20

8. Creative Communities

25

8.1 Stakeholders

25

8.2 Programs

26

9. Creative Spaces

32

9.1 Stakeholders

32

9.2 Programs

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Visual Arts Strategy

1. Alignment The Visual Arts Strategy aligns with the following Corporate, Section and Sector objectives, plans and policies:

Leading, Creating, Connecting: Shaping a Place to be Proud of Community Plan, Townsville >> 2011-2021 >> Guiding principle: Develop a vibrant arts lifestyle

Embracing the richness and talent of the arts community.

Townsville City Council Corporate Plan 2009-2014 >> Goal 3: Social Sustainability

Enhancement of opportunities for social engagement and well-being. >> 3.4 Foster the development of the city as a learning community. >> 3.7 Plan for community facilities and services to meet the community’s

current and future needs. >> 3.8 Provide community services and facilities to meet the needs of the community. >> 3.10 Facilitate and showcase artistic learning and expression through

performances, exhibitions, activities and programs. >> 3.11 Support community participation in cultural activities, programs

and events.

Alignment

Section 1 2

Arts and Culture Strategic Action Plan >> 2011-2014 >> Priority Area Two: Participation

Maximise opportunities for people to be involved in, and to make a

contribution to, the arts and cultural profile of Townsville. >> Priority Area Three: Professional Practice, Production and Programming

Excellence in arts and cultural expression through planning and capacity

building initiatives that promote best practice. >> Priority Area Four: Promotion

Townsville’s arts and cultural heritage widely promoted as a key feature of the

city’s identity.

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

>> Priority Area Five: Partnerships

Sustainability of Townsville’s arts and cultural sector. >> Priority Area Six: Planning

Arts and cultural projects and initiatives as a catalyst for the region’s social

and economic development.

Furthermore the implementation of the Visual Arts Strategy will play a pivotal role towards realising a number of strategic and operational recommendations as highlighted in the Visual Arts Review: Final Report.

These recommendations are identified as: Recommendation 1 Council should maintain its direct governance and support role for the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery based on its current strategic arts and cultural planning including its investment in and commitment to building the City’s cultural capacity.

Recommendation 6 Council should consider implementing a City of Townsville Art Collection Digitisation Special Project to improve community access to the collection and to enhance record keeping and to establish systems and procedures for ongoing maintenance.

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Section 1

Recommendation 4 An integrated Collection Management Policy and Plan needs to be developed for the City’s permanent art collection which reflects whole-of-collection development and management and includes a long-term collection storage strategy.

Alignment

Recommendation 3 Gallery Services should progress its strategic business planning in a more integrated way and in consultation with the Townsville community and in collaboration with Council management and relevant staff.

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Visual Arts Strategy

Recommendation 10 Gallery Services should investigate organisational structure changes to take account of roles and responsibilities, reporting lines, relationships with other Sections and emerging areas of responsibility including strategy, audience research and evaluation, technology and functional expertise such as Indigenous art and digital multimedia.

Recommendation 12 Gallery Services should consider how to implement performance reporting and evaluation systems, including an at least annual visitor survey, to collect and report on a limited number of strategic Key Performance Indicators.

Recommendation 17 Council should convene a Public Art and Design Task Force to progress a Public Art and Design Plan for the City which identifies priority sites, develops timeframes and indicative project/capital works costs.

Recommendation 19 Council should update the Public Art Register to include visual images of all public artworks and use the information to develop a ‘public art trail’/map for the City.

Recommendation 20 Council should review the relevant Development Control Plans to ensure that they reflect the Public Art Policy and the Public Art and Design Plan.

Alignment

Section 1 4

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

2. Background The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the Visual Arts Strategy and to highlight the significance this will play as a platform that underpins core service delivery in the areas of public programs, education and events, exhibitions, public art and collections management conducted through Gallery Services.

Traditionally art museums have relied solely on the delivery of education and public programs as vehicles for engagement with visitors, students and communities. The activities conducted have generally focussed exclusively upon supplementary programs derived from curatorially developed exhibitions to achieve this goal, that is: an exhibition is developed as the “product� which the audience can view and associated education and public programs are developed to provide stimulus activities for visitors once they have visited the exhibition.

Presently most art museums still adhere to this antiquated strategic approach towards hierarchical engagement with their stakeholders (fig.1) and as such often develop educative, program and activity based content in a reactive fashion that rarley extends or is delivered beyond the boundaries of the art museum environment. The outcome of this approach generally results in limited participation figures and does little to target specific groups in a considered proactive manner that addresses community needs and expectations.

Exhibition

Education and Public Programs

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Background

Curatorial Development

Section 2

Art Collection

Figure 1 Figure 1

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Visual Arts Strategy

The role and relevance of the art museum in today’s environment is being challenged like never before. Increased competition within societal frameworks mean that art museums need to remain innovative in their strategic operations to remain relevant and leaders in the delivery of qualitative and quantitative outcomes.

Instant “on-demand� technological applications, social media, silo shoppping environments, entertainment industry saturation and restrictive financial and human resources all combine as significant threats towards realising engagement opportunities within the art museum environment.

However, with change comes opportunity, and Gallery Services - through its Visual Arts Strategy - will undertake a proactive and holistic high-level strategic approach towards core service-level delivery that recognises current changes in societal frameworks, increases qualitative and quantitative outcomes, meets the needs and expectations of community and recognises Townsville City Council as a leader in the provision of arts and cultural activity and development.

The Visual Arts Strategy will transform the traditional methodology of a three-tiered model (Collections Management, Exhibitions and Public Programs) of core service-level delivery towards a themed strategy that will provide unprecedented targeted service level delivery platforms and mechanisms through which Gallery Services can elevate and extend its operational objectives within and outside of the gallery environment.

Background

The benefits of the stratagem cannot be understated as they provide unique overarching principles which inform development and implementation of programs of equal significance with traditional areas such as Exhibitions and Collections Management in a proactive rather than a reactive format.

Section 2 6

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

The six themes of core service level delivery are defined as: i.

Exhibitions

ii.

Collections Management

iii.

Art in Public Spaces

iv.

Creative Classrooms

v.

Creative Communities

vi.

Creative Spaces

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Section 2

Activation of traditional spaces will be coupled with a more proactive and innovative interaction with available council and civic spaces; policy development and implementation of holistic frameworks for public art will establish sustainable cultural currency and engrain the visual arts in the city’s future direction and development; specialised initiatives and capacity building opportunties will embed arts education and appreciation with the region’s youth and arts educators; multi-disciplinary projects will establish and empower partnerships and capacity building opportunties with artists, artsworkers and arts organisations; and cultural capacity development of the visual arts sector will have untold social and economic benefits for not only the individual participants and creative professionals, but for the wider community through national recognition of Townsville as an arts and cultural destination of substance.

Background

Combined, these six themes form a unique, innovative, broad and considered Visual Arts Strategy which greatly enhances Gallery Services’ capacity to deliver quality product and engagement opportunities to the Townsville region. The Visual Arts Strategy through Exhibitions, Creative Classrooms, Creative Communities, Creative Spaces, Collections Management and Art in Public Spaces will embed Townsville’s venues as leading arts institutions that are respectful of, and central to, the community and its varied cultures and subcultures. Significantly, resultant improvements to engagement opportunities will ensure Gallery Services is not only a leader in strengthening the Townsville region’s visual arts sector but is recognised nationally as a vanguard of sociocultural development.

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Visual Arts Strategy

3. Objectives The following overarching objectives inform the service level delivery of core activities through the implementation of the Visual Arts Strategy.

The objectives are broadly defined to correspond with identified outcomes of Gallery Services and allow for the development and implementation of future innovative programs that will result from the implementation of the strategy.

The objectives of the Visual Arts Strategy are as follows:

Objectives

A

Provision of high-level overarching strategies that inform holisitc service level delivery across Gallery Services activities

B

Provision of identifiable signature umbrella platforms that inform program development, implementation and methodologies across Gallery Services activities

C

Activation of the Townsville region for the delivery of arts and cultural activities, events and programs

D

Fosters collaboration and participation with arts organisations, educational organisations, community and specialist groups

E

Presents opportunities, events and services that provide high quality cultural and recreational experiences for individuals, groups and youth

F

Develop, administer and maintain an Art in Public Spaces program that recognises and supports the region’s artists and facilitates partnerships and industry development in local and regional planning

G

Support, promote and provide opportunities for the Townsville region’s artists, artsworkers and arts educators through advocacy, employment, promotion and collaboration

H

Develop, deliver and maintain innovative and relevant educative programs for youth, students, scholars and individuals

Section 3 8

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

4. Exhibitions Exhibitions are the visual product presented by Gallery Services within the two premier galleries, Perc Tucker and Pinnacles, and in external venues as appropriate – including the touring of major exhibitions developed by Gallery Services to regional, national and international venues.

The content, themes and artists displayed by Gallery Services are carefully considered, to ensure they are relevant and of interest to the north Queensland community, and adhere to the principles of Accessibility, Activation and Advocacy.

Accessibility • provision of internationally and nationally significant exhibitions and projects to the Townsville community • provision of highly developed curatorial content that promotes North Queensland artists and artsworkers to audiences locally, nationally and internationally • provision of diverse content and themes that interests all members of the community irrespective of age, culture, religion, gender and race Activation • provision of active spaces within and outside of the Gallery environment through diverse and considered programming

• identification and development of innovative collaborative projects that provide engagement opportunities for the region’s artists, artsworkers and cultural organisations Advocacy

Exhibitions

• active community and cultural capacity building through considered programming and project development

• provision of highly developed curatorial content that promotes North Queensland artists and artsworkers to audiences locally, nationally and internationally • identification and development of innovative collaborative projects that provide engagement opportunities for the region’s artists, artsworkers and cultural organisations

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Section 4

• provision of an active and sustainable creative economy through the delivery of innovative and relevant projects, events and programs

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Visual Arts Strategy

4.1 Stakeholders Key stakeholders in the Exhibitions theme are: • arts and cultural organisations • general visitors and tourists • social and cultural groups in the Townsville region • special interest groups and organisations • artists and artsworkers • toddlers, children and youth • schools/primary, secondary and tertiary

4.2 Exhibition Categories The following Exhibition Categories provide a holistic platform to develop, implement, monitor and deliver a diverse and engaging schedule of exhibitions that adhere to the principles of Accessibility, Activation and Advocacy. It is the aim of the Exhibition Categories to establish transparent, equitable and overarching programs of exhibitions that provide foundations towards realising the Creative Classrooms, Creative Communities and Creative Spaces themes and associated programs. The Exhibition Categories can be defined by two distinct engagement strategies: 1. exhibitions and special projects developed or sourced for display in the Townsville region - Local Component Exhibitions, Staff Curated Exhibitions, Major Touring Exhibitions, General Touring Exhibitions and Special Projects Exhibitions

Section 4 10

2. exhibitions and special projects developed to tour to venues outside of the Townsville region as part of the Regional Touring Program, National Touring Program and International Touring Program. These types of exhibitions and special projects can be curatorially developed from themes highlighted in engagement strategy 1.

General touring exhibitions Selected developed touring exhibitions chosen for their interest to various special populations within the region or to introduce new ideas, or to complement the City of Townsville Art Collection.

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

Staff curated exhibitions Gallery Services staff will curate museum standard exhibitions of local content, Collection content, national content and international content. This category allows professional development opportunities for Gallery Services staff in curatorial development and will generally incorporate artworks from City of Townsville Art Collection; local artists; private, corporate and public collections; local, state, national and international arts & cultural organisations.

Local component exhibitions Individual, group and thematic exhibitions presenting the work of local artists, craftspeople and identities from the Townsville region, and from time to time from broader North Queensland. These projects are to promote interest and recognition of activities by contemporary artsworkers and identities, and to promote economic growth in the local arts industry. These exhibitions will be a mix of staff and self curated exhibitions.

Types of exhibitions that fall under this category: Niche Gallery, Access Gallery, Showcase, Your Space, Solo and Group, Collections In Focus, Guest Curator Series.

Major touring exhibitions

Projects that combine promotional, educational, social history or general interest themes related to special groups, such as school children, elderly, subcultures or multicultural groups. This includes Gallery Services initiated exhibitions and special projects such as Strand Ephemera, Percival Portrait Awards, Martin Gallery Project, Annual Childrens Exhibition, Art Competitions and thematic displays around civic events and celebrations, military history, NAIDOC and festivals.

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Section 4

Special projects

Exhibitions

Selected developed exhibitions from other museums and galleries of national and international stature, including art, historical, contemporary, social history, or science and technology themes. These exhibitions should be of a calibre to engage the community and provide access to otherwise unavailabe experiences.

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Visual Arts Strategy

Regional Touring Program Selected developed exhibitions drawn from the City of Townsville Art Collection, local artists, special projects and Townsville arts and cultural organisations are toured throughout the North Queensland region as part of an outreach program. The Regional Touring Program will provide regional, neighbouring and remote communities with access to high quality art exhibitions and activities and will be complemented by the provision of professional development and engagement opportunities delivered by Gallery Services staff and the network of creative professionals.

Types of exhibitions include Local Product, Collections In Focus, Historical, Museological, special projects, group shows and satellite displays (ie: selection of Percival Portrait Award entries)

National Touring Program Selected special projects drawn from City of Townsville Art Collection; local, national and international artists; Townsville arts and cultural organisations, regional, state, national and international galleries and museums; and private and corporate collections are toured throughout Australia as part of Gallery Services’ role as a leading public art organisation.

Types of exhibitions include Local Product, Collections In Focus, Historical, Museological, special projects, group shows and thematic projects.

International Touring Program Exhibitions

Section 4 4 Section 12

Selected special projects drawn from City of Townsville Art Collection; local, national and international artists; Townsville arts and cultural organisations, regional, state, national and international galleries and museums; and private and corporate collections are toured internationally as part of Gallery Services’ role as a nationally recognised art organisation.

Types of exhibitions and projects include Local Product, Collections In Focus, Historical, Museological, cultural exchanges, On Tour (children’s exhibitions), group shows, Strand Ephemera, Sister City Initiatives and thematic projects.

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

5. Collections Management Collections Management is the overarching theme relating to the areas of specialisation pertaining to the care and preservation of the City of Townsville Art Collection and the Art In Public Spaces Collection to ensure that these cultural assets are maintained in perpetuity for current and future generations. Areas of specialisation include cataloguing, conservation, storage, preservation, presentation, acquisition and accessibility.

As growing cultural assets of the Townsville community the aim of the Collections Management theme is to ensure that the City of Townsville Art Collection and Art In Public Spaces Collection are managed in accordance with established international and national standards for museums and galleries.

5.1 Stakeholders Key stakeholders in the Collections Management theme are: Townsville region community

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Townsville region artists and artsworkers

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Primary, Secondary and Tertiary bodies in the Townsville region

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Regional, state, national and international arts sector organisations and institutions

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Regional, national and international tertiary organisations

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Regional, national and international scholars and independent arts consultants

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State and Federal governmental arts bodies and departments

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Regional, national and international “cultural� tourists

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Local and national donors to City of Townsville Art Collection

Section 5

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Collections Management

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

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Visual Arts Strategy

5.2 Areas of Specialisation The following Areas of Specialisation combine to provide a holistic platform to develop, implement, monitor and deliver industry leading Collections Management activity in-line with recognised international and national standards for museums and galleries.

City of Townsville Art Collection: Digitisation Project This special project will transform access to the City of Townsville Art Collection and the Art In Public Spaces Collection through the development of an established visual record that will be available to world-wide audiences.

Utilising specialist equipment and industry leading technologies the digitisation of Townsville’s premier cultural assets will provide unprecedented access, recognition, opportunities and appreciation of the region’s cultural development in historical and contemporary formats.

Art Collection Database

Collections Management

Section 5 14

The City of Townsville Art Collection and Art In Public Spaces Collection are catalogued and managed on an Art Collection Database that meets specialised industry and data requirements. The database must be able to store/access a wide range of large multimedia formats in order to support industry trends in art practice and development.

These include, but are not limited to, banner-sized print quality images, high definition multimedia art, film, photomedia and online accessibility.

Conservation Management Conservation Management is an integral component in the preservation and care of cultural material. Conservation is undertaken in two categories; remedial and preventative. Remedial conservation is carried out by professional conservators who specialise in specific art media to rectify damage that has occured to an artwork.

Preventative conservation is undertaken by industry professionals within Gallery Services and is the provision of resources and processes that prevent damage from occurring to artwork therefore eliminating the need for costly remedial conservation.

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

Preservation Matting Preserving artwork is a priority in Collections Management in order to minimise damage, loss of value and mitigate conservation requirements to works on paper.

Most works on paper (excluding charcoal or pastel works) that are acquired undergo preservation matting in accordance with international standards for museums and galleries. This process preserves the art work by making it manageable to move without touching or applying any stress to the paper support whilst encapsulating the art work in an archival enclosure.

Preservation Framing Framing can be the most effective process of preservation for some artworks, depending on their medium and vulnerability - in some cases the frame itself requires specific preservation. Requirements of preservation framing can be categorised into three areas.

Vitrine framing is a highly specialised process used for delicate/vulnerable work that will deteriorate over time if not framed in a sealed neutral environment. (As opposed to ordinary frames that are not neutral but create their own environment within the frame)

Section 5

Contextual framing is required when an artwork is framed in a historical or culturally significant frame - often associated with a period in art history or has been fabricated by the artist’s own hand. Contextual framing requires that the frame is assessed and preserved along with its corresponding artwork.

Collections Management

Standard framing in-line with museum standards, requiring works on paper to be matted to international standard sizes and framed for minimal paper handling. If the medium is charcoal or pastel the work must be framed behind glass to avoid the work being damaged (Perspex conducts static electricity and if used to frame charcoal or pastel the medium will lift off the paper, hence highly damaging the work). Paper works that are too large to be safely stored in solander boxes are also framed (ordinarily behind Perspex) to preserve the work.

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

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Visual Arts Strategy

Preservation Storage Storage requirements for art works is a highly specialised and critical component towards the long-term preservation of individual items and entire art collections. Ever expanding collections require continual monitoring of the storage environment to ensure that the collection is secure, accessible, environmentally stable and meets international museums and gallery standards.

Acquisitions All proposed acquisitions are presented to an Art Acquisition Working Group each quarter to allow critical review and community input into the growth of the City of Townsville Art Collection. All acquisitions processed are in accordance with a recognised Acquisitions Policy which determines how the proposed acquisition meets the scope and intent of the City of Townsville Art Collection.

Acquisitions entering the City of Townsville Art Collection are comprised of: gifts, cultural gifts, purchases and acquisitive prizes. Gifts and cultural gifts are acquired from private collectors, artists, companies, organisations, estates and individual members of the community.

Collections Management

Bequests In 2013 it is recognised that Gallery Services has been effectively priced out of many areas of the contemporary high-priced art market. In response to this circumstance the development and establishment of a Gallery Services Fund in-line with the Australian Taxation Office’s specifications and requirements for Deductible Gift Recipients Public Art Galleries will be established as a platform to allow monetary gifts to Gallery Services for the acquisition of significant artworks that align with the strategic direction of the City of Townsville Art Collection.

The provision of fundraising in this area of activity will allow targeted acquisition of significant artworks that enhance the Collection and supplement existing financial provisions made by Townsville City Council.

Section 5 16

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

Artabout Artabout is an initiative that provides access to regionally significant artworks drawn from the City of Townsville Art Collection which are displayed in selected corporate and public locations throughout Townsville City Council facilities.

Artwork of the Month The Artwork of the Month initiative is a platform through which to educate, engage and promote artworks drawn from the City of Townsville Art Collection.

As resources improve across Collections Management the Artwork of the Month program will be expanded to include access to the Collection by members of the community and the presentation of stories relative to the program in traditional and contemporary forums.

Section 5

The City of Townsville Art Collection is the region’s largest cultural asset and as such requires strict adherence to financial and industry requirements.

Commencing in 2013/14 the Collection will undergo a complete valuation and audit once every five years in line with statutory and industry standards.

Collections Management

Valuations

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

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Visual Arts Strategy

6. Art in Public Spaces The Art in Public Spaces theme provides a holistic platform through which Gallery Services can foster, develop and realise Townsville City Council’s commitment to public art and endorsement of permanent and temporary art projects within the community environment of the Townsville region.

The aim of Art in Public Spaces is to promote sociocultural development through the provision of a vibrant Townsville arts industry; considered and relevant frameworks that realise successful activation and integration of public art; and ensuring future development projects are intrinsically linked to a broader vision of the Townsville region through the establishment of partnerships and collaborations.

6.1 Stakeholders Key stakeholders in the Art in Public Spaces theme are:

External

Art In Public Spaces

Section 6 18

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Townsville region community

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Townsville region artists and artsworkers

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Developers

- Primary, Secondary and Tertiary bodies in the Townsville region - Regional, national and international scholars and independent arts consultants - State and Federal governmental arts bodies and departments -

Regional, national and international “cultural” tourists

Internal -

Planning and Development

-

Parks Services

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Community Services

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

6.2 Framework Development Policy development coupled with the establishment and implementation of holistic frameworks and support mechanisms for the delivery of public art will engrain the visual arts in the city’s future direction and promote the cultural identity of the region to local and world-wide audiences.

The following factors combine to provide a holistic platform to develop, implement, support, monitor and deliver industry leading governance and activation of public art delivery through the Townsville region.

Through collaborative efforts with key internal stakeholders the Art in Public Spaces theme will realise the development of: • policies and procedures that outline Council’s commitment to public art as a platform to establish Townsville as a contemporary city that embraces vibrant cultural life • a strategic approach to public art commissioning that links people, place and creativity

• the establishment of a sustainable cultural economy for the region’s artists, artsworkers and community • ongoing professional development opportunities for the region’s artists, artsworkers and creative professionals • recognition of Townsville at being at the forefront of socio-cultural development and innovation in the regional Australian idiom • integration of special projects (ie: Strand Ephemera) that complement and enhance the profile of public art in the community’s consciousness as arts and cultural events of civic significance in a national context

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Section 6

• development of comprehensive support mechanisms for developers to activate and integrate public art commissioning that celebrates creativity, inclusion and diversity

Art In Public Spaces

• management and promotion of the city’s Art in Public Spaces Collection and heritage assets to local and world-wide audiences, tourists and visitors through traditional and contemporary formats

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Visual Arts Strategy

7. Creative Classrooms The Creative Classrooms moniker provides a holistic platform upon which to develop, implement and monitor a series of programs targeted at primary, secondary and tertiary students and arts educators in the Townsville Region.

The associated programs will allow Gallery Services to undertake activities outside of the traditional confines of the gallery environment and provide a content rich, diverse and engaging program of activities and opportunities for youth and arts educators which will stimulate and enrich visual arts education in our region.

7.1 Stakeholders Key stakeholders in the Creative Classrooms initiative are: • primary schools / secondary schools • tertiary institutions • home schooling students and parents • arts educators • artists • arts and cultural organisations • youth

Creative Classrooms

Section 7 20

7.2 Programs Art-In-A-Suitcase Art-In-A-Suitcase is - as the name implies - a fully self contained arts program in a suitcase targeted at primary schools and delivered by Gallery Services in collaboration with local artists.

An artist is invited by Gallery Services to select works or a theme drawn from the City of Townsville Art Collection to create a program which is then taken to every primary school in the Townsville region. In response the students create works which are then displayed at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery.

Commencement Period:

2013 onwards

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

Artist-In-Schools The Artist-In-Schools program facilitates high level hands-on practical arts education through the delivery of local artists working directly with students within schools for an extended period of time. Gallery Services employs local artists encouraging the development of visual arts. Participating school teachers and students attend an official opening of the exhibited works at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery.

This sub-program targets secondary schools and will deliver an Artist-In-Schools event for every secondary school in the Townsville region.

Commencement Period:

ongoing

Guest Lecture Series The Guest Lecture Series draws upon the local and visiting resources of Gallery Services through the development of the Exhibitions Program.Local and visiting artists are engaged as part of the exhibition conditions to undertake the development and delivery of a guest lecture whilst in the Townsville region.

The guest lectures will target every secondary school in the Townsville region and it is anticipated that each secondary school will receive at minimum of one guest lecture during a calendar year.

2013 onwards

School Group Excursions Gallery Services offers free guided tours adapted to suit different year levels and relevant study areas for students/groups to explore the current exhibitions on display.

If requested, a hands-on art activity relating to the current exhibition will be organised by Gallery Services to complement the excursion. ongoing

Section 7

Commencement Period:

Creative Classrooms

Commencement Period:

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

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Visual Arts Strategy

QATA - Queensland Art Teachers Association Queensland Art Teachers Association meetings are held monthly throughout the school term with professional development opportunities available over school holiday and/ or pupil free days. Meetings are held on a Tuesday evening at 5.30pm unless otherwise advised.

Professional development opportunities may include lectures, discussions and workshops by educators, artists, curators and critics. During these meetings Gallery Services conducts evaluation and feedback sessions with the QATA members which informs Creative Classrooms programs and strategies.

Commencement Period:

ongoing

Education Resource Kits Education Resources Kits are available from Gallery Services or on-line at Councl’s website for each main exhibition.

This resource is designed to assist teachers in providing learning outcomes for students that link with the school curriculum and the themes explored within the works on display.

Commencement Period:

Creative Classrooms

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ongoing

Art Educators Professional Development Days Held on pupil free days every year, this is an opportunity for school staff to explore the possibilities of teaching and learning in the Visual Arts and other Key Learning Areas, using Gallery Services as a starting point.

This program includes creative strategies for looking at art and programming ideas for the classroom, incorporating a blend of specifically designed programs, tours, lectures and practical workshops.

Themes and focus areas can be negotiated, enabling aspects of the Art Educators Professional Development Days to be tailor-made.

Commencement Period:

ongoing

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

U3A – University of the Third Age Activities Held every month, University of the Third Age members are provided a personalised guided tour of the current exhibitions and morning tea at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery.

Commencement Period:

ongoing

Creative Classrooms E-news 2013 will herald the development and implementation of the Creative Classrooms e-news membership and quarterly update.

This content awareness tool will provide comprehensive updates on Creative Classroom activities, events and opportunities designed specifically to inform teachers/ educators of exhibitions and education programs being offered by Gallery Services.

Commencement Period:

2013 onwards

Education projects can be tailored to meet the needs of individual classes upon request.

Example: After a discussion with a local high school teacher, a group of students developed French critiques about a selection of works from Xstrata Percival Portrait Award 2012.

These critiques were then displayed alongside the works in the Gallery. The students spoke to their critiques during a guided tour of the exhibition with fellow classmates. ongoing

Section 7

Commencement Period:

Creative Classrooms

Creative Education Projects

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

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Visual Arts Strategy

Artnow The Artnow program has been developed in response to the cessation of the QLD Government’s long running Creative Generations program.

Senior secondary school visual arts students are invited to submit “best practice” artworks in an exhibition at Pinnacles Gallery for display and assessment as part of the school curriculum.

The exhibition will draw works from students in the greater North Queensland region and will be accompanied by a small publication to document the event.

Commencement Period:

2013 onwards

iTours Development is underway towards realising access to Gallery Services Creative Classroom content through free interactive tours from your smart phone/tablet for selected exhibitions.

These tours include additional information on particular art works, artist interviews, programs, activities, and more. These tours will also be accessible on Council’s website.

Commencement Period:

2014

Creative Classrooms

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Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

8. Creative Communities The Creative Communities moniker provides a holistic platform upon which to develop, implement and monitor a series of programs targeting the development of arts and cultural activity with individuals, groups, organisations and sub-cultures within and outside of the gallery environment.

It is the aim of the Creative Communities program to undertake the activation of collaborative partnerships through identified opportunities that support, promote and enhance the cultural capacity, creative economy, cultural experience and engagement opportunities for artists, artsworkers, organisations, individuals and visitors of the Townsville region.

8.1 Stakeholders Key stakeholders in the Creative Communities initiative are: • arts and cultural organisations • families • tourists and visitors Creative Communities

• home schooling students and parents • artists • toddlers, children and youth

Section 8

• community groups

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

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Visual Arts Strategy

8.2 Programs Under 5’s (working title) This program is designed for children under the age of five to engage with the current exhibitions on display at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery with their parents/carers, through creative play and art making activities tailored specifically for this age group.

In providing tailored engagement opportunities for this age bracket, Gallery Services is significantly contributing to the stimulation and development of imagination and critical thinking, and the refinement of cognitive and creative skills.

This developmental growth through arts has proven to help level the “learning field” across socio-economic boundaries, while Gallery Services is actively growing its future audience through the development of arts appreciation at an early age.

Commencement Period:

Ongoing

Play Art

Creative Communities

Play Art is a block series of art classes held on the weekend or after school for young children to explore and develop their creativity. Gallery Services engages local artists to conduct these art classes which are targeted specifically at primary school aged children.

Play Art positions the creation of art as a viable and worthwhile alternative to sporting and other more mainstream recreational activities, and in doing so meets the needs and wants of our diverse community.

The employment of local artists to develop and deliver Play Art classes ensures that participants are being exposed to the varied skills of trained and recognised artists, all the while contributing to the strengthening of the local visual arts sector’s long-term viability.

Commencement Period: Ongoing

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Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

Family Fun Days Family Fun Days are specifically designed workshops aimed at providing the community’s young families a free, convenient and enjoyable method of engaging with the galleries and exhibitions on display. In developing and delivering these short, engaging ‘drop-in’ style workshops which can be undertaken by a very broad demographic of people, Gallery Services positions the Family Fun Days as an attractive and viable entertainment alternative. By appealing to families, Gallery Services is also reaching a multi-generational audience, and encouraging future visitation and participation.

Commencement Period:

Ongoing

Recognition of Local Achievement in Visual Arts Gallery Services seeks to recognise the outstanding contribution of local arts practitioners through the staging and support of a number of competitive exhibitions and programs.

The Townsville Young Artist Awards were established by Gallery Services to support and develop the artistic talent of young people in our community. Young artists from preschool through to the final year of secondary school can enter individually or as part of a school group, all artworks submitted are exhibited at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, and a cash prize is offered for each section. By publicly displaying and officially recognising the efforts of our community’s young artists – in a field which is often under-recognised – Gallery Services asserts a sense of being valued by the community in the young artists.

Commencement Period:

Section 8

As has been seen over the years, the exhibition and this resultant sense of worth encourages participants to undertake future creative pursuits, including tertiary education, employment in the sector and other channels. The fostering of this next generation of artists and arts workers ensures the sector remains vibrant and progressive.

Creative Communities

Gallery Services is an active participant in the development of the NQ Arts Awards through the shaping of visual arts criteria, and promotion to the sector. The NQ Arts Awards are open to the Townsville region and beyond to the Burdekin, Hinchinbrook and Charters Towers catchment areas, benefitting artists across the region through increased promotion and contributing to a closer and more resilient sector throughout NQ.

Ongoing

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Visual Arts Strategy

Art Tasters Art Tasters are art workshops, delivered as one-off intensive sessions or as a block series, that target adults. Art Tasters workshops allow unprecedented access to trained and highly skilled local and visiting tutors, and are developed to complement the current exhibitions. The workshops therefore encourage a deeper understanding of the art work on display, and contribute to embedding a broad sense of arts appreciation in the community.

Art Tasters encourages the community to enjoy a creative outlet, and also seeks to build the capacity and skillset of local artist participants by fostering information sharing and the teaching of new techniques. Therefore contributing to the professional development of local artists, which has ongoing sector benefits in raising the standard of artistic product in the region.

Commencement Period:

Ongoing

Teen Art Tasters Teen Art Tasters are art workshops, delivered as one-off intensive sessions or as a block series, that target the 13 to18 age bracket. Delivered by local or visiting artists, the Teen Art Tasters series provides a greater insight into the vast possibilities of the arts at a pivotal developmental period through the teaching of various, advanced and engaging art techniques. In doing so, the workshops encourage the development of a next generation of artists and arts appreciators.

Creative Communities

The employment of local and visiting artists to develop and deliver Teen Art Tasters classes ensures that participants are being exposed to the varied skills of trained and recognised artists, all the while contributing to the strengthening of the local visual arts sector’s long-term viability.

Commencement Period:

Ongoing

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Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

Art Escape Art Escape is a program of targeted school holiday workshops developed by Gallery Services and held across both Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery. The individual workshops are conducted by local artists and target primary school aged children. The Art Escape series positions the creation of art as a viable and worthwhile alternative to sporting and other more mainstream recreational activities, and in doing so meets the needs and wants of our diverse community.

The employment of local artists to develop and deliver Art Escape classes ensures that participants are being exposed to the varied skills of trained and recognised artists, all the while contributing to the strengthening of the local visual arts sector’s long-term viability.

Commencement Period:

Ongoing

Townsville Artist Markets

The Townsville Artist Markets are intended to be a holistic entertainment event for families, and as such employs local musicians and roaming performers. In delivering a multi-faceted event that utilises a much loved and easily recognised platform – the market - Gallery Services has increased visitation across a broader audience who engage with fine arts and crafts being produced within the region.

Ongoing

Section 8

Commencement Period:

Creative Communities

Pinnacles Gallery hosts the Townsville Artist Markets at the Riverway complex on a bi-monthly basis. The opportunity to participate in the Townsville Artist Markets is provided to local arts practitioners at little to no cost, engaging a wide range of professionals seeking opportunities to both promote and sell their product. In this, the Townsville Artist Markets significantly contribute to the development of the region’s creative economy, and the continuing development of local product.

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Visual Arts Strategy

Artist Talks Gallery Services schedules floor talks and lectures by exhibiting artists, where available, to provide the region’s arts and broader community access to creative professionals. In highlighting their skills and experiences, the artist is aiding the professional development of Townsville’s artists. In exploring the themes and stories that underpin their work on display, the artist ensures an enjoyable and meaningful broader audience engagement, and in doing so Gallery Services contributes to embedding arts appreciation as common and valued within the community.

Commencement Period:

Ongoing

Artcycle Artcycle is a new program designed by Gallery Services to facilitate access for local artists to resources that are surplus to the operational requirements of businesses/organisations or individuals. Gallery Services would operate as a broker between artists and those offering materials to be reused for local arts practice. An electronic storage bank will be established, with the materials being offered to artists remaining with the owner until collected or disposed of after a set period of time. Artcycle will potentially reduce an artist’s overheads while providing access to significant materials that would otherwise not be utilised, leading to the creation of new bodies of creative work; fostering an active and economically sustainable arts sector; and contributing to the community’s environmental sustainability through the re-purposing of materials that would otherwise be wasted.

Commencment Period: Creative Communities

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2013/2014

Art After Dark This dynamic after hours program includes the screening of art films, and delivery of talks and presentations by local and visiting artists, curators, art historians and academics across both Perc Tucker Regional Gallery or Pinnacles Gallery. Art After Dark is a social and enjoyable program, intended to break pre-conceived ideas of the Gallery held by some sections of the community. Simultaneously, the program positions Gallery Services as progressive and flexible, distancing its operation from an over-reliance on visitation during restrictive day time hours and enabling an engagement with new audiences, particularly career professionals who are unavailable during standard operating hours.

Commencement Period:

Ongoing

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

Summer Screenings (working title) Summer Screenings is anticipated to be a month long film festival held outdoors at the Riverway complex. A range of films will be showcased for different age groups throughout the festival, culminating in a short film competition on the closing weekend.

Summer Screenings builds the capacity of local arts practitioners to move into the burgeoning new media realm – improving the local arts sector’s vitality – while also strengthening existing relationships with the James Cook University’s School of Creative Arts. By hosting the event at the Riverway complex, Gallery Services will engage with a broad cross-section of the community, and activate the space in an innovative and family friendly fashion.

Commencement Period:

2013

Gallery Services App

By using the App people will be able to forward plan their visit to a particular exhibition or public program. Further, interactive tours will be developed for select exhibitions.

By providing these convenient, self-guided interactive tours, Gallery Services strikes a balance between leisure and learning; is more capable of conveying story and meaning within an exhibition; transforms the audience from a passive viewer to a participant; and enriches and personalises their experience - all key factors to engraining arts education and appreciation in the exhibition experience.

2014

Section 8

Commencement Period:

Creative Communities

A Gallery Services App will be developed to be compatible across various mobile platforms, providing users a convenient and progressive information channel to find out about programs at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery.

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Visual Arts Strategy

9. Creative Spaces The Creative Spaces moniker provides a holistic platform upon which to develop, implement and monitor a series of programs targeting the activation of spaces and environments outside of the gallery facility to conduct arts and cultural programs, activities and projects.

It is the aim of the Creative Spaces program to undertake the activation of collaborative partnerships through identified opportunities that support, promote and enhance the cultural capacity, creative economy, cultural experiences and engagement opportunities for artists, artsworkers, organisations, individuals and visitors to the Townsville region.

9.1 Stakeholders Key stakeholders in the Creative Spaces initiative are: • arts and cultural organisations • Townsville City Council • tourists and visitors • artists and artsworkers • toddlers, children and youth • community groups Creative Spaces

• corporate and business partners

Section 9 32

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

9.2 Programs On Tour 2014 will realise the development of On Tour which will showcase the works produced by students in the Art-In-A-Suitcase or Artist-In-Schools sub-programs to audiences outside of the Townsville region.

The pilot On Tour project is anticipated to realise a major cross-cultural exchange of artworks by middle school students in Australia, Korea, China and Japan with the final combined exhibition of works by students from all participating countries on display at Pinnacles Gallery.

Commencement Period:

2014

Strand Ephemera

The exhibition provides Townsville City Council, developers, and the broader Townsville public with possibilities in the public art arena. Strand Ephemera provides an artist fee to selected artist, and enables regionally-based artists to hone their skills and compare and contrast their work within a national context at a local venue with the view to being competitive in the lucrative national public art scene.

By holding this ‘mini-festival’, which celebrates the creativity of our community, in the region’s most popular outdoor civic space - The Strand - Gallery Services reaches its largest and most diverse audience, escaping the at times intimidating ‘white box’ gallery setting and entrenching arts appreciation and education in the broader community. ongoing (biennial)

Section 9

Commencement Period:

Creative Spaces

Every two years The Strand is transformed into an outdoor Gallery space, featuring temporary artworks along the popular 2km beach front. Gallery Services forms crosssector partnerships with local businesses and organisations, and delivers an extensive public program of events including art workshops, artist talks, guided tours, street performances and an education program for local school students.

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Visual Arts Strategy

On Show (working title) This program provides access to art across the region by partnering with venues to exhibit works. The program will strengthen Gallery Services existing relationships with potential venues, which include local libraries, Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE, James Cook University and Community Centres.

The activation of non-traditional gallery spaces allows Gallery Services to engage with existing and new audiences in their own regular environments, and increases the community’s consideration for how art can be integrated into their own and other spaces.

On Show also provides increased exhibition opportunities for local practitioners, helping to promote their work and the local sector, and allows Gallery Services further avenues to share works from the City of Townsville Art Collection with the community.

Commencement Period:

2013

Elevation (working title) This is a new program being planned by Gallery Services to enliven local elevator spaces about Townsville with artworks. Gallery Services will work in partnership with local artists and businesses to realise this program, and by commissioning local artists is strengthening the economic sustainability of the local arts sector.

The activation of non-traditional gallery spaces allows Gallery Services to engage with existing and new audiences in their own regular environments, and increases the community’s consideration for how art can be integrated into their own and other spaces.

Elevation also provides increased exhibition opportunities for local practitioners, helping to promote their work and possibly result in future commissions or sales.

Creative Spaces

Commencement Period:

2013/2014

Section 9 34

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

Summer Screenings (working title) Summer Screenings is anticipated to be a month long film festival held outdoors at the Riverway complex. A range of films will be showcased for different age groups throughout the festival, culminating in a short film competition on the closing weekend.

Summer Screenings builds the capacity of local arts practitioners to move into the burgeoning new media realm – improving the local arts sector’s vitality – while also strengthening existing relationships with the James Cook University’s School of Creative Arts. By hosting the event at the Riverway complex, Gallery Services will engage with a broad cross-section of the community, and activate the space in an innovative and family friendly fashion.

Commencement Period:

2013

Street Art!

Any Street Art! activity would also entail professional development opportunities for participants. Should the feasibility study deem the project suitable, Gallery Services envisages benefits to include the development and encouragement of young artists, bolstering the vibrancy and sustainability of the visual arts sector locally; the activation of public spaces with art; the acknowledgement of street art as a legitimate artform within the community’s consciousness; and positioning Townsville as a regional leader in the field of street art resulting in wider economic benefits through cultural tourism.

2013

Section 9

Commencement Period:

Creative Spaces

Gallery Services will collaborate with stakeholders to develop a feasibility study into being active in the field of street art. Current thinking revolves around the establishment of an annual Memorial Street Art Prize, and of a more holistic framework that would entail considered urban mapping and the creation of legalised spaces and opportunities for artists.

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Visual Arts Strategy

Art In Public Spaces The aim of Art In Public Spaces is to promote socio-cultural development through the provision of a vibrant Townsville arts industry; considered and relevant frameworks that realise successful activation and integration of public art; and ensuring future development projects are intrinsically linked to a broader vision of the Townsville region through the establishment of partnerships and collaborations. *for a holistic overview of Art In Public Spaces please refer to Section 6 The Art In Public Spaces program will realise: • a strategic approach to public art commissioning that links people, place and creativity • management and promotion of the city’s Art In Public Spaces Collection and heritage assets to local and wordwide audiences, tourists and visitors through traditional and contemporary formats • development of comprehensive support mechanisms for developers to activate and integrate public art commissioning that celebrates creativity, inclusion and diversity • the establishment of a sustainable cultural economy for the region’s artists, artsworkers and community • ongoing professional development opportunities for the region’s artists, artsworkers and creative professionals • recognition of Townsville as being at the forefront of socio-cultural development and innovation in the regional Australian idiom

Creative Spaces

Section 9 36

International Touring Program Selected special projects drawn from City of Townsville Art Collection; local, national and international artists; Townsville arts and cultural organisations; regional, state, national and international galleries and museums; and private and corporate collections are toured internationally as part of Gallery Services’ role as a nationally recognised art organisation.

Types of exhibitions and projects include Local Product, Collections In Focus, Historical, Museological, cultural exchanges, On Tour (children’s exhibitions), group shows, Strand Ephemera, Sister City Initiatives and thematic projects.

Gallery Services / Perc Tucker Regional Gallery / Pinnacles Gallery

Visual Arts Strategy

Shop n Play (working title) This is a new program where drop-in style art workshops will be developed and facilitated by Gallery Services in local shopping centres - primarily during peak times such as school holidays - enabling young patrons to engage with art. These workshops will link with current exhibitions taking place at either Perc Tucker Regional Gallery or Pinnacles Gallery. In providing tailored engagement opportunities for a younger audience, Gallery Services is significantly contributing to the stimulation and development of imagination and critical thinking, and the refinement of cognitive and creative skills.

The activation of non-traditional gallery spaces allows Gallery Services to engage with existing and new audiences in their own regular environments. The program also provides a platform for Gallery Services, in consultation with Together Townsville, to form strategic partnerships with local businesses for the potential benefit of future programs.

Commencement Period:

2013

Gallery Services – in collaboration with Townsville-based environmental organisations such as the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority - will launch an Art and Environment project that celebrates the idyllic north Queensland environment and examines factors that threaten it. The project will employ local and national artists to conduct residencies to tutor local school students in the development of environmental art pieces across an intensive 5-6 day camp, and also involves an environmental education program.

An exhibition component will be held both on-site, to activate the natural environment with non-damaging artwork, and in the traditional gallery setting. The Art and Environment project is a significant Gallery Services’ contribution to the future environmental sustainability of the region through education, while also encouraging the development of a future generation of artists and environmental workers.

2014

Section 9

Commencement Period:

Creative Spaces

Art and Environment

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