Gallery Services Report Acquisition Working Group Chair’s Report

I am pleased to present Gallery Services’ Annual Report for 2012/13, highlighting the numerous achievements and developments in programming, engagement and new acquisitions for the City of Townsville Art Collection

In this period, Gallery Services has developed and implemented a nationally unique, innovative, broad and considered Visual Arts Strategy, targeting Gallery Services activities into six core themes; Exhibitions, Collections Management, Art in Public Spaces, Creative Classrooms, Creative Communities, and Creative Spaces

Combined, these core themes and their various sub-programs will greatly enhance Gallery Services’ capacity to deliver quality product and engagement opportunities to the Townsville region, and will embed Townsville’s venues as leading arts institutions that are respectful of, and central to, the community and its varied cultures and subcultures.

Gallery Services successfully delivered 72 exhibitions across its two premier venues, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery, including numerous local artists and community group exhibitions in its Niche, Access, Showcase, Stairwell and Your Space exhibition spaces, as well as the newly activated space The Galleria, located in the Riverway Arts Centre foyer. The Sister City cultural exchange with our partner organisation in Changshu, China, was extremely popular and attracted 2,916 visitors whom viewed art works of Townsville school students.

Exhibition highlights for 2012/13 included a major touring exhibition from the Australian War Memorial, Perspectives, the implementation of Gallery Services’ Guest Curator Series, and the hugely successful 2013 Children’s Exhibition VRROOOM, which forged links with local schools, the V8 Supercars, Sucrogen Townsville 400, and specifically Team Erebus.

Similarly, Strand Ephemera, Townsville’s flagship biennial outdoor sculpture exhibition which took place in September 2011, received widespread positive feedback from the community. Planning is already underway to continue to grow and improve this significant arts event for the people of Townsville and visitors to the region in 2013.

A host of education and public programs—fitting variously within the themes of Creative Classrooms, Creative Communities, and Creative Spaces—were also developed and presented to complement major exhibitions arranged by the Gallery Services team. These activities enjoyed high participation rates, and were successful in engaging both students and the broader community with exhibition content for both their enjoyment and education.

Shane Fitzgerald Manager Gallery Services

On behalf of the Art Acquisition Working Group, I thank all of our donors for their generous support over the past year which has contributed significantly to the advancement of the City of Townsville Art Collection—an immeasurably valuable cultural asset for our region. Every contribution to the Collection is gratefully received and acknowledged and all gifts, whether large or small, do make a difference.

I also warmly thank fellow Working Group members and Gallery Services Manager, Shane Fitzgerald and his dedicated team for their support as the Chair of the Acquisition Working Group. I look forward to continuing to provide support and assistance to Townsville City Council’s Gallery Services section and the arts community as a whole.

Cr Sue Blom Chair, Art Acquisition Working Group

Jon Cattapan

Australia: Victoria, Melbourne

Heading Out (Gleno) [detail] 2008

Oil and coloured pencil on paper, 57 x 76.4 cm

ART93992

Displayed as part of the AWM Touring Exhibition Perspectives