Gallery services annual report 2012/13

Townsville City CouncilGallery ServicesANNUAL REPORT 2012 / 2013Perc Tucker Regional GalleryPinnacles Gallery

Townsville City Council Gallery Services Annual Report 2012/2013

The mission of Gallery Services is to develop the arts, artists, and arts audience of north Queensland. In 2012/2013 the Gallery Services section of Townsville City Council managed the City of Townsville Art Collection, delivered advice and support to arts and cultural organisations and artists across the region, and operated the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery, providing a dynamic program of exhibitions and events at each venue.

The work undertaken by the Gallery Services section is guided by and meets the following goals as set out in the Arts and Culture Strategic Action Plan >> 2011-2014; Townsville City Council Corporate Plan 2009-2014; and Leading, Creating, Connecting: Shaping a Place to be Proud of - Community Plan, Townsville >> 2011-2021. Arts and Culture Strategic Action Plan >> 2011-2014 >> Priority Area One: Place Accessible, functional and lively locations that enhance the city’s uniqueness. >> 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. >> 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.

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. 3.6 Strengthen community networks to collaboratively deliver community services 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. 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.

Gallery Services Staff

Townsville City Council Art Acquisition Working Group

Objectives


Right: Patricia Piccinini The stags 2008 Fibreglass, automotive paint, leather, steel, plastic, tyres.Two pieces: 177 x 183 x 102cm and 147 x 90 x 101cm; 196 x 224 x 167cm (installed variable). Purchased 2009 with funds from Estate of Lawrence F. King in memory of the late Mr and Mrs S.W. King through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation and the Queensland Government’s Gallery of Modern Art Acquisition Fund. Collection: Queensland Art Gallery.

Cover Image: G W Bot The Rock 1994Linocut on Khadi paper, 75.8 x 57cmDonated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program

Shane Fitzgerald Manager Gallery Services Gillian Ribbins Administration Officer

Eric Nash Curator Wendy Bainbridge Administration Officer

Jo Stacey Team Leader Administration Carly Sheil Digital Media and Exhibition Design Officer

Amber Church Education and Programs Coordinator Louise Middleton Education and Programs Officer

Michael Pope Education and Programs Coordinator (acting) Nic Horton Education and Programs Officer (acting)

Jak Henson Exhibitions and Collection Coordinator Tegan Ollett Education and Programs Assistant (acting)

Sarah Welch Exhibitions and Collection Coordinator (acting) Michelle Littman Gallery Assistant

Rob Donaldson Digital Media and Exhibition Design Coordinator Breanna Capell Gallery Assistant

Leah McManus Exhibitions Officer Danielle Berry Arts Administration Trainee

Holly Grech-Fitzgerald Collections Management Officer

Councillor Sue Blom Chair Mr Casper Schougaard

Councillor Gary Eddiehausen Ms Margo McOmish

Councillor Colleen Doyle Ms Gail Mabo

Mr Adam Brown (to 26 March 2013) Mr Shane Fitzgerald

Townsville City Council Gallery Services Annual Report 2012/2013Townsville City Council Gallery Services Annual Report 2012/2013

Councillor Sue Blom Chair Mr Casper Schougaard

Councillor Gary Eddiehausen Ms Margo McOmish

Councillor Colleen Doyle Ms Gail Mabo

Mr Adam Brown (to 26 March 2013) Mr Shane Fitzgerald


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 BlomChair, Art Acquisition Working Group

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 FitzgeraldManager Gallery Services

Right: 2013 Easter Art Escape School Holiday workshop


Jon CattapanAustralia: Victoria, MelbourneHeading Out (Gleno) [detail] 2008Oil and coloured pencil on paper, 57 x 76.4 cmART93992Displayed as part of the AWM Touring Exhibition Perspectives


Overview of Gallery Services Activity

2012/2013 was a year of high activity with regards to exhibitions and programs, and increased emphasis on strategic development for Gallery Services.

Gallery Services continued to deliver a program of dynamic exhibitions and events across Gallery Services’ venues, including the culmination of the extremely popular Xstrata Percival Portrait Award, development towards Strand Ephemera, and a diverse and polished range of locally-developed and touring exhibitions which showcased local, national and international artists.

Perhaps the most important development for Gallery Services throughout the period has been the development of strategic frameworks that will underpin all activity from now and into the future. This framework and development will improve the level of service delivered by Gallery Services for the people of Townsville, while positioning the region as a leading arts and cultural destination in the national consciousness.

These developments included, but are not limited to:

• Development and adoption of a Visual Arts Strategy

• Increased communication and partnerships with all levels of government, local and national arts and cultural organisations, and learning institutions

• Project planning and approval of funding to digitise all 2700 plus works in the City of Townsville Art Collection, increasing access to the invaluable cultural asset of the region for the education and enjoyment of Townsville residents

• A restructure of the staffing model used by Gallery Services that brings the organisation in line with modern Gallery practice

• Development, delivery and analysis of an Annual Survey to gauge the satisfaction of the region with Gallery Services’ performance, and inform future activity

Feedback from the Annual Survey was informative and positive. Importantly, more than 95% of visitors’ comments in the Visitors Books also expressed satisfaction with the Galleries’ exhibitions, accompanying programs and activities, and the warm welcome and assistance received from staff and volunteers.

Further to surveying of the Gallery members and contacts, Gallery Services participated in Museum and Gallery Services Queensland’s Guess Who’s Going to the Gallery: A Strategic Audience Evaluation and Development Study for Queensland Galleries across both Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery.

In 2012, with project funding from the Australia Council for the Arts and Arts Queensland, Museum & Gallery Services Queensland (M&GSQ) partnered with M&G NSW to undertake this parallel study of 18 regional Queensland public galleries. As in the previous NSW Study, each gallery received training on data collection and a bespoke report of their results. A total of 3041 responses were collected across the eighteen galleries and were collated into a Queensland Report, released in 2013.

The data from this process provided Gallery Services an indication as to how it is performing against regional galleries state wide, and also the wants and needs of the Townsville and broader Queensland arts community. This information will assist Gallery Services in programmings exhibitions, educative and public programs that appeal to and engage the community, in-line with the developed Visual Arts Strategy. Excerpts from this data is included at the rear of this Annual Report.

2012/13 proved to be another major year in the development of the City of Townsville Art Collection, particularly with respect to the quality of artworks acquired, many of which featured in major exhibitions held across Gallery Services’ peak gallery venues in recent years. As such, these acquisitions strengthen the Collection’s standing as a significant historical and cultural asset for the region and community.

In total, 27 artworks were formally accepted into the Collection, at a total value of $123,840. Most importantly, $98,670 worth of artworks were donated this financial year, either directly from artists, collectors, or through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program. This enthusiasm to gift works to the City of Townsville Art Collection is indicative of the regard with which the Collection is held, and of the national significance of Townsville City Council’s premier art galleries, administered by Gallery Services, in attracting such favourable recognition within the arts sector.


Gallery Services Outputs 2012/2013

2011/2012 2012/2013 Notes

Total Number of Participants 216, 651 184 152 Total sum of fields marked with ‡

General Visitations ‡ 95, 262 90 279 Physical entries to galleries proper (excluding school students)

Creative Classrooms School Students Outreach ‡ 1, 465 2 190 Artist-in-Schools program,

Guest Lectures

Virtual Visitation ‡ 21, 000 14 065

Includes: PTRG; Pinnacles; Strand Ephemera webpages and facebook profiles but does not include Twitter participation

Touring Exhibitions Number of Visitors ‡ 12, 991 6 949 Visitation at Ron McBurnie touring

exhibition Metal As Anything

Creative Spaces Visitation ‡ 84, 596 57 873 Includes Your Space and Changshu Children’s Sister City Exchange

Creative Communities Visitation ‡ - 12 796 Includes Townsville Artist Markets

2011/2012 2012/2013 Notes

Volunteer Hours Contributed 3, 397 2, 781 Across Gallery Services

Number of Gallery Services Creative Communities Programs 469 186 Across Gallery Services, excludes

Functions and Community Activities

Number of Functions at Gallery Services Venues 23 22 Across Gallery Services

Number of Community Activities at Gallery Services Venues 38 28 Across Gallery Services

Number of Exhibitions 65 72

Includes Ron McBurnie touring exhibition Metal As Anything (as one exhibition), Your Space and ChangshuChildren’s Sister City Exchange

Number of Collection Objects Acquired 141 27

Value of Collection Objects Acquired $391, 403 $123, 840 Valuations provided by external consultant

Total Value of Collection $6 million $6 million Valuation provided by external consultant


Prepared in January 2013, Gallery Services’ new Visual Arts Strategy was formally endorsed and adopted with much enthusiasm by Townsville City Council in early 2013.

The Strategy is innovative within the national network of regional galleries, and seeks to step away from antiquated gallery models in favour of a new approach that is reflective of the needs and wants of the community that the galleries service.

As such, the adopted 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.

The six themes of core service level delivery are defined within the Visual Arts Strategy as:

i. Exhibitions ii. Collections Management iii. Art in Public Spaces iv. Creative Classrooms v. Creative Communities vi. Creative Spaces

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 opportunities 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 opportunities 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.

The objectives Gallery Services’ seeks through the implementation of this Visual Arts Strategy are:

A Provision of high-level overarching strategies that inform holistic 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

Put simply, the development and adoption of this Visual Arts Strategy has enabled activity that will position Townsville’s galleries and arts sector as a leader amongst regional communities in Australia, with significant social and economic benefits to the Townsville Community.

Visual Arts Strategy Overview

Right: Installation image from Alison McDonald’s major exhibition Urban Legacy, held at Pinnacles Gallery 2012

EXHIBITIONS COLLECTIONSMANAGEMENT

ART IN PUBLIC SPACES

CREATIVECLASSROOMS

CREATIVE COMMUNITIES

CREATIVE SPACES




Gallery Services presented 71 exhibitions in the 2012/13 financial year, a year which also saw the conclusion of a major tour of the 2009 Ron McBurnie survey exhibition Metal as Anything along the east coast of Australia. Throughout the tour, Metal as Anything attracted 21,456 participants, including 8,465 in this reporting period. Further, the exhibition attracted significant media and marketing, contributing to the positioning of Townsville as a vibrant cultural destination in the national consciousness. The tour also recorded a budget surplus of $15,268.39.

The 2012/13 financial year saw the final weeks of the Xstrata Percival Portrait Award 2012, and the selection of 32 artworks for display during Strand Ephemera. Significant development towards the successful staging of this major biennial event, which will occur in August and September 2013, was undertaken in 2012/13.

Perc Tucker Regional Gallery presented 18 major exhibitions on its ground and first floors, including exhibitions that increased access to works from the City of Townsville Art Collection, such as Collecting in the Tropics, a selection of the finest acquisitions from the 2011/12 period. Major touring exhibitions of national and international artworks were also presented for the enjoyment of the regional community, with shows such as Perspectives: Jon Cattapan and eX de Medici, Tom Risley: Last and Recent Works, and Afghanistan: The Perils of Freedom 1993 – 2009 all proving popular. The Gallery continued its partnership with local arts and cultural groups such as JCU, Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE, North Queensland Potters’ Association Inc. and the Townsville Art Society to present their annual/biennial exhibitions, while also developing and presenting major exhibitions of locally based and celebrated artists, such as Margaret Wilson, David Rowe, and Carolyn Dodds.

A further 38 exhibitions of predominantly local content were delivered in the Gallery’s Niche, Access, Showcase and Stairwell spaces. Perc Tucker Regional Gallery attracted 49,775 visitors in the financial year, with the largest attendance recorded for any single show being THRESHOLDS, a major restrospective of works by renowned Queensland acstract artist Margaret Wilson, which attracted 9, 568 visitors.

Pinnacles Gallery attracted 40, 504 visitors in the financial year, and presented nine major exhibitions—an increase from the eight presented in the previous reporting period. This included a greater representation for local artists, particularly through major exhibitions by Alison McDonald, members of the PressNorth group, and the implementation of Gallery Services’ Guest Curator Series, which resulted in major exhibitions curated by Steve ‘Pricey’ Price and the NQ Potters’ Association Inc. Pricey’s Townsville is Paradise: Here’s Proof was a fun and frivolous celebration of our region and its artistic talents, while the NQ Potters’ Diversity in Clay was a beautifully presented, thoroughly research and considered exploration of the development of the city’s ceramic collection, and of the ceramic arts in Australia over the last forty years generally.

Pinnacles Gallery has also continued its strong relationship with Education Queensland and the region’s secondary schools through its presentation of Creative Generations Excellence Awards in Visual Art and Design, and the innovative ArtNOW initiative. The Gallery has also continued to champion contemporary works of art through the new media exhibition Impossible Universe: Now Here, and the monumental sculptural works of Adrian Davis and Lubi Thomas presented in Musing with Materials.

The 72 exhibitions presented by Gallery Services in the 2012/13 financial year is a significant increase in activity from the 65 presented in 2011/12. This increase has resulted from the sustained efforts of both venues, but particularly through the additional exhibition activity resulting from the activation of The Galleria, located in the Riverway Arts Centre foyer. This space has served as a valuable additional exhibition space to showcase local talent. Five exhibitions have been presented at The Galleria in the 2012/13 period, and the community has been supportive of the initiative.

Responding to the needs and wants of the community revealed through the Annual Survey and M&GSQ Guess Who’s Going to the Gallery? Gallery Services has inplemented a number of Exhibition Categories to 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

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.

Exhibitions Overview

Left: Installation image from Alison McDonald’s major exhibition Urban Legacy, held at Pinnacles Gallery 2012

EXHIBITIONS


Diversity in ClayCurated by members of the North Queensland Potters’ Association Inc. as part of Gallery Services’ Guest Curator Series23 March – 15 May 2013

Diversity in Clay was the largest and most comprehensive ceramic exhibition in Pinnacles Gallery history. Curated by members of the North Queensland Potters’ Association Inc, the exhibition was the second in Gallery Services’ new Guest Curator Series.

Wendy Bainbridge, President of the North Queensland Potters’ Association Inc, said that “we were invited to curate this exhibition from Townsville’s permanent ceramic collection following many years of sponsorship by Townsville City Council and partnership with Gallery Services.”

“This exhibition encompassed a diverse and exciting collection of ceramics, covering both an historical and up-to-date overview of current trends in Australian ceramics.”

“It was a treat to discover all the works in the City of Townsville Art Collection, and not always easy to make a selection, but it is believed the selection reflected its diversity.”

Diversity in Clay included over 70 individual works, including some works of previous guest judges and winners of the 39 annual Ceramic Competitions organised by the NQ Potters’ Association Inc. over the years.

Roderick Bamford, Senior Lecturer at the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales was invited to open the exhibition, and to deliver a free public talk on the nation’s ceramic arts practice.

Shane Fitzgerald, Manager Gallery Services, said he was “delighted to have been able to host an exhibition that puts such a long and proud ceramic tradition in the region into perspective.”

“The NQ Potters’ Association Inc. has for many years worked tirelessly to bring nationally and internationally recognised ceramicists to Townsville, both as judges and participants in their annual competition, as well as to develop, promote and celebrate the skills of our region’s own potters.”

“Showing works spanning nearly forty years also illustrated the developments and trends in the ceramic arts in Australia, and the incredible diversity of techniques. Gallery Services has a commitment to the education of its audience, and public programs were arranged to coincide with the exhibition to this effect, along with a Glossary of Terms to assist viewers in discovering exactly how some of the amazing works were created.”

Aesthetically, the exhibition was a triumph, but even more pleasing was the considered and sophisticated curatorial focus of the show. Diversity in Clay exposed visitors to works by some of the nation’s finest ceramic artists over the last forty years, and also alluded to the trends and developments within ceramic arts practice in this period.

Diversity in Clay attracted significant media, and Gallery attendance during the show was strong, with 6,037 visitors through the doors. Most pleasingly, the general public were enamoured with Diversity in Clay and recognised it as setting a new benchmark for ceramic exhibitions in Townsville. This sentiment was reflected in the many comments left by visitors, such as the one below;

“Pottery exhibitions in Townsville just keep getting better”Jennifer Knight Rockhampton

Exhibition in Focus: Diversity in Clay

Marc SauvageRetro (Coffee & tea set) [detail] 1997Ceramic: earthenware with underglaze,Purchased with the assistance of the VACB of the Australia Council, 1997City of Townsville Art Collection


Andrea HylandSpiridel 3 [detail] 1995Bone chinaPurchased with the assistance of the VACB of the Australia Council, 1997City of Townsville Art Collection


Afghanistan: The Perils of Freedom 1993 - 2009Stephen DupontAn Australian Centre for Photography Touring Exhibition15 March – 26 May 2013

Perhaps the reporting period’s most controversial exhibition, Afghanistan: The Perils of Freedom 1993 – 2009—touring from the Australian Centre for photograph—was also likely the most successful.

Attracting 8,669 visitors during its showing, Gallery Services staff consistently observed a dramatic increase in the length of time patrons spent in the exhibition space to study and consume these powerful images by internationally recognised artist and photo-journalist Stephen Dupont. This resulted in thoroughly considered responses left by visitors in the comments book, variously expressing their profound appreciation, deep sense of having been moved, or, on occasion, distaste for the show.

Mostly due to its powerful content relevant to the region, the exhibition also attracted a substantial amount of local media across all mediums, including four interviews on local television news programs aired on 7 and WIN.

The hosting of this exhibition was scheduled as part of Gallery Services’ ongoing engagement with the large military demographic based in Townsville—continuing a proud tradition of hosting nationally and internationally significant exhibitions of military or war content toured from prestigious institutions such as the Australian War Memorial, George Eastman House, or on this occasion the Australian Centre for Photography.

The artist Stephen Dupont was most gracious in giving his time towards the end of the exhibition to engage with local school groups as part of Gallery Services’ Guest Lecture Series, and deliver an insightful artist talk to a captive audience on Friday 17 May.

Afghanistan: The Perils of Freedom 1993 – 2009 was both a beautiful and deeply moving exhibition, presenting a confronting portrait of a country that has remained a focal point of the world’s attention for several decades.

Between 1993 and 2009, Stephen Dupont – whose images of American soldiers burning the bodies of dead Taliban earned him the Robert Capa Gold Medal Award citation from the Overseas Press Club of America – travelled to and from the conflict-ridden country, documenting the rise and fall of several regimes and gaining unparalleled access to political leaders.

Shane Fitzgerald, Manager of Gallery Services, states that the images within the exhibition “were at times graphic, but it was important we show them as they provide a powerful and compelling vision of Afghanistan, and its people, who have experienced such horror.”

“The compositions of Dupont’s photographs are masterful, but it was the humanising effect of the works that was their true strength – underlining for viewers the full impact of war.”

Exhibition in Focus: Afghanistan: The Perils of Freedom 1993 - 2009

Right: Image © Stephen Dupont Axe Me Biggie 2006

Above: Stephen Dupont artist talk to coincide with the Australian Centre for Photography touring exhibition Afghanistan: The Perils of Freedom 1993-2009, held at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery 2013



Above: Ben QuiltyTorana, Nelson Street 2004 Oil on canvas, 50.6 x 30.8cmIpswich Art Gallery Collection, 2005


VRROOOM2013 Children’s Exhibition24 May – 4 August 2013

Always a popular fixture of the Townsville arts calendar, the Annual Children’s Exhibition for 2013 used motor vehicles as a central visual motif to explore connected issues such as technology, travel and the environment.

The exhibition, which attracted 7, 011 enthusiastic participants by the end of the 2012/13 financial year, included works by some of the nation’s leading contemporary artists, such as Patricia Piccinini, Archibald Prize-winning artist Ben Quilty, Ben Morieson, Michael Zavros, Margaret Dodd, Eamon O’Toole and Robert Moore.

Councillor Sue Blom, Chair of the Community and Cultural Committee, said “the annual exhibition makes a significant contribution to the artistic development of our young citizens, and also to the vibrancy and variety of free activity available to families.”

“Great activities for the kids included plasticine scene sculpting , comic drawing and development, and abstract drawing using a driving video game.”

Shane Fitzgerald, Manager Gallery Services, said “a number of significant loans were secured to deliver a very dynamic and engaging exhibition for the whole family; one which stimulated thought and the production of some art by young visitors.”

The exhibition exposed young visitors to works created in all mediums, including film, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, prints, murals, and photographs. Most importantly, a host of engaging activities were developed to reflect the artworks, and engender critical thinking and participation. This included a thorough Education Kit disseminated to all local schools, a free Activity Booklet, and secondary level prompting questions stationed at each artwork.

VRROOOM also enabled Gallery Services to partner with one of Townsville’s major civic events, the Sucrogen Townsville 400, to reach a broader audience and benefit from increased promotion.

The Design Your Own Car drawing activity, permanently situated within the exhibition, was the catalyst for a rewarding partnership with the V8 Supercars, and specifically with Team Erebus. The competition encouraged children to draw their most imaginative car, with a selection of 22 of the very best designs transformed into large-scale stickers and displayed at The Galleria from 9 July – 4 August.

The winning artist would have their design produced as a sticker and applied to Tim Slade’s Team Erebus V8 Supercar, and as such it would be displayed to a national audience Sucrogen Townsville 400. Tim Slade selected Amy Butler, 11, of St Joseph’s School, The Strand as the winning artist, and she was also given a tour of the Team Erebus garage upon meeting Tim.

Shane Fitzgerald, Manager Gallery Services, said “the competition proved very popular and unearthed some very talented young artists. Gallery Services is making genuine attempts to reach broad cross sections of the community, including by partnering with leading events in the city. This partnership with both the V8 Supercars and specifically Team Erebus has been a great initiative to achieve this.”

The exhibition as a whole also continued Gallery Services’ strong partnership with primary and secondary schools within the region, through the dissemination of education resources related to exhibitions, and the scheduling of numerous class tours and workshops as part of VRROOOM.

Exhibitions in Focus: VRROOOM

Left: Phil GordonLes 2003Stoneware and enamel, 19 x 23 x 45cm Ipswich Art Gallery Collection, 2003Stock Car 2003Stoneware and enamel, 13 x 21 x 45cm Ipswich Art Gallery Collection, 2003


Xstrata Percival Portrait Award4 May – 1 July 2012

Rhythms of LightDi Bresciani6 July – 26 August 2012

Perspectives Jon Cattapan and eX de MediciAn Australian War Memorial Travelling Exhibition6 July – 2 September 2012

The 57th Townsville Art Society Awards and 2012 Townsville Open Art AwardTownsville Art Society31 August – 16 September 2012

Coburn to WhiteleyMaster Prints from the Fred Genis Collection7 September – 28 October 2012

G W Bot: The Long Paddock A 30 Year SurveyA Goulburn Regional Art Gallery Touring Exhibition21 September – 4 November 2012

At the MomentVisual Arts and Contemporary Craft students of the Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE2 November – 18 November 2012

2012 Townsville Ceramic AwardsNorth Queensland potters’ Association Inc.9 November – 25 November 2012

Thresholds: Images from Music, Reverie and Place A Margaret Wilson RetrospectiveCurated by Anne Kirker23 November 2012 – 17 February 2013

Exposed: Creativity UnleashedJCU Graduate Exhibition30 November – 9 December 2012

Survey This!David Rowe14 December 2012 – 3 February 2013

Collecting in the Tropics8 February – 10 March 2013

Tom Risley: Last and Recent WorksA KickArts Contemporary Arts Touring Exhibition22 February – 19 May 2013

Afghanistan: The Perils of Freedom 1993 - 2009Stephen DupontAn Australian Centre for Photography Touring Exhibition15 March – 26 May 2013

VRROOOM2013 Children’s Exhibition24 May – 4 August 2013

Townsville Young Artist Awards 201331 May – 16 June 2013

The Laugh Factory2013 Youth Exhibition with HA-HADelivered with the support of funding by the Regional Arts Development Fund (R.A.D.F.) - a Queensland Government and Townsville City Council partnership to support local arts and culture31 May – 16 June 2013

HypercathexisCarolyn Dodds21 June – 11 August 2013

Metal As AnythingRon McBurnie

Sister City Cultural ExchangeChangshu, China

Perc Tucker Regional Gallery

The following is a list of the major exhibitions presented at Gallery Services’ two peak venues, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery, and touring nationally and internationally during the period 2012/13. These exhibitions were variously developed by Gallery Services, by community groups with the support of Gallery Services for display within the galleries, or curated by and toured from Regional, State, and National arts organisations.

Major Exhibitions 2012/2013

On Tour


Impossible Universe: Now HerePresented by IDAprojects and QUT creative industries precinct9 June – 15 July 2012

Urban LegacyAlison McDonald21 July – 26 August 2012

Creative Generation Excellence Award in Visual Art and Design 2012North Queensland Regional Exhibition1 September – 30 September 2012

ArtNOWA Pinnacles Gallery initiative supported by QNI through the Together Townsville program, and S&S Wholesalers1 September – 30 September 2012

Out of the BoxPressNorth6 October – 11 November 2012

Dot.ComBarrier Reef Institute of TAFE Cultural Arts – in collaboration with Mundy Creek Natureway Regeneration Project17 November 2012 – 27 January 2013

Townsville is Paradise: Here’s ProofCurated by Steve ‘Pricey’ Price as part of Gallery Services’ Guest Curator Series2 February – 17 March 2013

Diversity in ClayCurated by members of the North Queensland Potters’ Association Inc. as part of Gallery Services’ Guest Curator Series23 March – 15 May 2013

Musing with MaterialsAdrian Davis and Lubi Thomas25 May – 21 July 2013

Pinnacles Gallery

Above: Michelle Hall and Jo Lankester at the opening of Out of the Box in 2012


Creative Spaces 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.

The formative steps of this program have been taken in 2012/13 through discussions with a number of key stakeholders and organisations about the potential of increased creative use of available spaces. Gallery Services has also investigated possibilities to integrate art within council’s own facility assets, and this endeavour began close to home with the establishment of The Galleria—a high-visibility community exhibition space that was activated in 2012/13 at the Riverway Arts Centre foyer.

Strand Ephemera is another key project that falls under the Creative Spaces banner, and substantial effort has gone into the development of the exhibition and associated programs for delivery in late 2013. Over 70 high quality applications were received from artists by Gallery Services. While the exhibition doesn’t have the capacity to accommodate all of the works, this terrific response ensures a high quality of works is included from local and national artists.

The artists selected to participate in Strand Ephemera in 2013 are:

• S.A.Adair• Jo Anglesey• Steve Campbell and Donna Foley• India Collins• Sarah Emily Kate• Marion Gaemers• Naomi Gittoes• Erica Gray• Lynnette Griffiths• Michelle Hall, Jo Lankester and Robert Crispe• Joy Heylen• Jan Hynes• Ralph Knight• Ian Loiterton• Hugh Martin• Alison McDonald and Stephen de Jersey• Annee Miron• Geoff Overheu• Chandra Paul• Schleuter Rainer• MJ Ryan Bennett• John Stanley• Gabi Sturman• Elizabeth Tillack, Julie Bruce and Sue Valis• Sue Tilley• UnitingCare Community• Adriaan Vanderlugt• The Winged Collective• La Luna Youth Arts• GhostNets

Gallery Services will also partner with various organisations, such as Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, Artspaced, ABC Open, to deliver ‘fringe activities’ coinciding with Strand Ephemera. These considered collaborations strengthen the local arts sector, and contribute significantly to the vibrancy of the region by; enabling external organisations to benefit from increased participation through association and joint-marketing with an exhibition of national regard, and by also ensuring visitors to the region during Strand Ephemera are aware of the vast array of high-level arts and cultural activity available for their enjoyment, not only on The Strand, but throughout the city.

A further partnership has been formed that will see James Cook University’s School of Creative Arts host and facilitate the much-loved Public Art Symposium that will close Strand Ephemera proceedings. This partnership utilised both organisations areas of specialisation to ensure the best result for the audience. These include Gallery Services’ ability to attract relevant and regarded speakers such as Professor Steffen Lehmann, PhD, Michael Parekowhai, and Richard Brecknock, and JCU’s thorough understanding of and ability to co-ordinate and host peak educative forums and events.

Creative Spaces Overview

CREATIVE SPACES

Right: The Winged Collective Adaptation 2012Accepted proposal image for Strand Ephemera 2013



Creative Communities 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, and as distinguished from Creative Classrooms which caters specifically to education institutions.

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.

While the budget will only begin to reflect and enable the delivery of programs to achieve the Visual Arts Strategy from 2013/14, Gallery Services began to make inroads in the period 2012/13 towards providing programs that achieve the outcomes set-out within Creative Communities.

A breakdown of such programs is provided overleaf, but perhaps one of the year’s most successful Creative Communities programs was the artist talk and workshops provided by internationally recognised street artist HA-HA.

Made possible through funding secured through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), the program saw HA-HA deliver a free artist talk on Friday 22 March. The talk was extremely well received, with over 80 attendees, many of whom were younger members of the community that are not regular visitors to the Gallery.

The following Saturday and Sunday, an intensive two day stencil art workshop was facilitated by HA-HA and provided free of charge to young Townsville artists (aged 18-28) at Pinnacles Gallery. The workshop was advertised through the gallery’s various channels, and through Headspace, JCU, TAFE and other cultural and key demographic organisations such as Umbrella, Cre8ive Sk8 and The Sweatshop, and workshop spaces were filled within the first week of the information being disseminated, evidence of the high levels of interest in this field within Townsville. This wide dissemination of information also translated to the participants hailing from many and varied backgrounds, and possessing varied levels of skills and experience.

As anticipated, through the workshops HA-HA was able to impart his knowledge on young workshop participants, resulting in a direct skill/professional development outcome for young emerging artists. The workshop taught new skills to a number of artists to employ in their art practice, while for more experienced practitioners direct contact and conversation with HA-HA enabled them to take steps toward becoming a more established artist. One-on-one access to an established artist such as HA-HA enabled the young artists to enquire about topics such as gallery representation, marketing of their work, and how to secure group and solo exhibition opportunities.

Resultant works by participants, as well as a completed canvas and two works on paper by HA-HA – which he has kindly donated to the City of Townsville Art Collection for the enduring benefit of the Townsville community – also formed this reporting period’s Youth and Emerging Artist Exhibition titled The Laugh Factory, which was displayed at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery from 31 May – 16 June 2013. Also included in the exhibition was a 1min 59 second film of the workshop process by young local artist and workshop participant Louis Dunn, to provide exhibition visitors with greater insight into the project.

CREATIVE COMMUNITIES

Creative Communities Overview

Right: HAHA works with youth participants in the free stencil art workshop held at Riverway Arts Centre in March 2013


The following is a breakdown of the various programs that fall within the overarching Creative Communities program.

Creative Communities Programs No. of Activities

art-box 14

Play Art 4

Family Fun Day 13

Adult Art Tasters 29

Teen Art Workshops 5

Art Escape 37

Townsville Artist Market 6

Artist Talks 19

Exhibition Launches 46

Guided Tours 13

Monday Morning Art Group 28

External 22

TOTAL ACTIVITIES 236

TOTAL ATTENDANCE 12964

Creative Communities: major areas of activity

Bottom: Collaborative work - Result of HAHA March workshop 2013, Aerosol on board, 122 x 242 cm


The Townsville Artist Markets have continued to develop in 2012/13. Hosted by Gallery Services at the Riverway Arts Centre (both internally and externally dependent on the season) on a bi-monthly basis, the Markets have provided significant opportunities for local arts and craft practitioners, at little to no cost, to both promote and sell their product in one of Townsville’s most picturesque recreational precincts.

In this, the Townsville Artist Markets has significantly contributed to the development of the region’s creative economy, and the continuing development of local product. In total, 278 market stalls were presented in 2012/13, with a breakdown of numbers per Market event provided below:

• September 1 2012: 46 market stalls• October 20 2012: 43 market stalls• December 16 2012: 61 market stalls• February 23 2013: 51 market stalls• April 20 2013: 47 market stalls• June 29 2013: 30 market stalls

The Townsville Artist Markets are intended to be a holistic entertainment event for families, and as such the event has also provided employment and busking opportunities for local musicians and roaming performers.

The following talented individuals, groups and bands were employed or engaged to perform at the Townsville Artist Markets in 2012/13:

• 4th Sunday Folk Music• Townsville Concert Band• Luke Thomas• Stephen Brady• Harbourside Duo• Sinead Rush• Anu Grace• Richard Duffy• Carols Choir• La Luna Youth Arts – roaming circus performers• Movimiento – showcasing international dances• Rebecca Harrison

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.

Townsville Artist Markets

Above and Right: Visitors peruse stall holders’ goods at the Townsville Art Market, held at the Riverway Arts Centre




Art in Public Spaces 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 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.

Significant strategic development has occurred in this area through the collaborative relationship developed between Gallery Services and Stockland, specifically through the current North Shore development.

Gallery Services has acted as an advisor in the development of Stockland’s public art commissioning practices, with a key milestone of this relationship being the recent commissioning of a large sculpture to be permanently installed within the development. Further, and quite significant to the economic sustainability of the visual arts sector locally, a Public Art Master Plan for the procurement of artworks by North Shore development has also been adopted, which will see public art opportunities made available at all stages of the development. Importantly, these opportunities will also involve participation from the immediate community to encourage engagement with art, allow input and ownership of the works, and facilitate interaction with the selected artists.

A number of public artworks within Townsville have also received remedial conservation, as in the case of Gavin Ryan’s Lyin’ Fish, or new homes so they can be best viewed and enjoyed by the community.

A new public artwork has also been commissioned in this period to be permanently situated on The Strand, and unveiled during the 2013 Strand Ephemera. The work, entitled Flex, will be created by Amanda Feher, and situated near the Rock Pool, where a wind turbine had formerly stood.

The sculpture was commissioned in recognition of the resilience shown by the Townsville community during and after Cyclone Yasi (February 2, 2011), and has been made possible through funding provided under the Community Development and Recovery Package, which is a joint initiative of the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.

The artist states of the work;

“The sculpture is comprised of three main elements, which both together and independently, symbolise the natural regeneration and re-building after a disaster occurs.“

“The Olive Backed Sunbird is native to the north and Townsville area. If the Olive Backed Sunbird’s nest is damaged by weather, they will often return to repair and inhabit the same nest again or rebuild close by.”

“Originally a mangrove dwelling species, the highly adaptable Sunbird has successfully inhabited and bred in Cultivated and Urban landscapes. The Sunbird with all its traits, lends itself as the perfect symbol of resilience.”

“The Grass Blade type form represents the tumultuous local environment, with its flexibility when long , and its ability to regrow after being cut down. This is also true of many of the people who rebuild after their homes are damaged in Natural Disaster Events.”

“Below the sculpture, the landscaping forms Isobaric Ring configuration and references Storm Radar Map colour schemes we are familiar with seeing on weather maps during extreme weather events.”

Gallery Services staff were also participants in a Memorial Street Art Prize Working Group, which developed a feasibility study into the development of legalised street art activities and programs that could be implemented in Townsville. The Report identified and assessed numerous programs that have engaged Street Art activity in Australia, such as by the City of Melbourne and Adelaide City Council, and explored the developmental, policy, successes and failures, opportunities and outcomes derivative of each initiative.

Art in Public Spaces Overview

ART IN PUBLIC SPACES

Left: Jane Hawkins Robert Towns 2005, bronze cast, 180 x 92 x 80cm, Victoria Bridge - City end

Right: Amanda Feher Flex 2013, bronze and stainless steel, 217 x 165 x 22 cm.Photograph by Tony Tsimbas


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

The Creative Classrooms programs have allowed 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 has stimulated and enriched visual arts education in our region.

Significant development towards the delivery of this platform was undertaken in 2012/13. This development included the implementation of a Creative Classrooms e-newsletter disseminated at the beginning of each term to arts educators in the Townsville region, highlighting Gallery Services’ programs and opportunities for engagement. Further, there has been greater emphasis on the education kits developed and made available by Gallery Services online.

Gallery Services has also made a concerted effort to involve and consider arts educators in the development of programs; through direct communication with relevant teachers, by attending and presenting content to regular Queensland Art Teachers Association (QATA) meetings, and by referencing relevant curricula during the development of education resources that reflect Gallery Services’ exhibitions and programs.

In order to overcome ever-present issues of access which limit schools’ ability to interact with the regions peak arts institutions, Gallery Services has implemented a program of activities targeted at both primary and secondary schools which are undertaken within the classroom setting.

These programs, namely: Artist-in-Schools, Art-in-a-Suitcase, and the Guest Lecture Series will see Gallery Services reach every primary and secondary school within a financial year in order to engage students with art and promote lifelong learning and interest in the field.

Creative Classrooms

CREATIVECLASSROOMS

Right: Opening celebration for Thuringowa State High School’s Artist-In-Schools project I Cherish with local artist Cassandra Roberts

Below: Gallery Service’s 2013 Education Resource for Art Educators




During the 2012/2013 period, Gallery Services under its Creative Classrooms program targeted schools through Guest Lecture Series, Artist-in-Schools, Art-in-a-Suitcase and Gallery tours and launches.

The following is a breakdown of schools participation in our Creative Classrooms programs by electoral division.

Division Artist Guest Lecture Series

Artist-in-Schools

Art-in-a-Suitcase

Gallery Visits TOTAL Students

1(Paluma, Crystal Creek, Mutarnee, Rollingstone,

Balgal Beach, Clemant, Bluewater, Bluewater Park, Blue Hills, Lynam, Hervey Range, Black River, Yabulu, Beach Holm, Bushland Beach,

Mount Low, Burdell)

2 2 50

2(Alice River, Rangewood, Jensen, Bohle Plains, Deeragun, Shaw,

Cosgrove, Mount Louisa, Garbutt)

1 1 60

3(Bohle, Mount St John, Garbutt, Town Common, Shelly Beach,

Pallarenda, Rowes Bay, Belgian Gardens, North Ward, Castle Hill, Townsville City, South Townsville)

1 8 4 4 17 370

4(Gumlow, Kelso, Pinnacles, Hervey Range, Granite Vale)

5(Kirwan, Thuringowa Central, Cranbrook, Kirwan)

1 24 3 7 39 845

6(Thuringowa Central, Condon, Douglas, Annandale, Murray)

3 8 3 13 314

7(Kirwan, Heatly, Cranbrook)

4 4 20

8(Vincent, Aitkenvale, Gulliver, Currajong, Gulliver, Mundingburra,

Rosslea)

1 1 30

9(West End, Townsville City, Currajong, Hyde Park, Hermit Park,

Railway Estate, Gulliver, Pimlico, Mysterton, Mundingburra, Rosslea)

2 2 4 112

10(Railway Estate, Oonoonba, Stuart, Cluden, Idalia, Wulguru,

Roseneath, Mount Stuart, Oak Valley, Ross River, Toonpan, Barringha, Calcium, Reid River, Woodstock, Majors Creek, Mount Elliot,

Brookhill, Julago, Alligator Creek, Nome, Cape Cleveland)

8 3 1 12 240

Other 4 4 92

TOTAL 97 2142

NOTE: 7 x QATA meetings and teacher workshops occured at Pinnacles Gallery, Umbrella Studio and Perc Tucker Regional

Gallery (attendees: 48)

Total programs 104

Total attendees 2190

Creative Classrooms Programs

Local artist Anna Mango packs her suitcase full of artwork ready to deliver her Art-In-A-Suitcase program My Eye Spy Mission to eight Townsville primary schools


The following is a breakdown of the major programs and initiatives conducted under the Creative Classrooms strategy. The following programs only encompass the major activities which are undertaken by Gallery Services during the 2012/2013 period.

Art-in-a-SuitcaseGallery Services initiated the Art-in-a-Suitcase program for the first time during the 2012/2013 period. Two local artists, Anna Mango and Joanne Gerke, were contracted to deliver this program to participating primary schools within the Townsville region. The artists selected works from the City of Townsville Art Collection which were then packaged to best practice museum standards in a suitcase. The artists devised art workshops to compliment the artworks and then visited 13 schools within the Townsville region where they delivered artworks to 402 students. The artworks created during these sessions were curated into two exhibitions at Pinnacles Gallery and Perc Tucker Regional Gallery.

ArtNOWThe ArtNOW program is a major exhibition deliverable undertaken each year at Pinnacles Gallery. ArtNOW is currently run in conjunction with Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art and is a major drawcard for the Gallery’s program. Gallery Services launched ArtNOW in response to the QLD Governments gradual cessation of funds for its Creative Generations programs.

Senior students are invited to submit “best practice” artworks in an exhibition at Pinnacles Gallery for display as part of the school curriculum. All creative arts students are eligible whether they are student OP strands or non-OP strands.

ArtNOW had a total number of 4285 visitors during the 26-day exhibition.

Artists-in-SchoolsThe Artist-in-Schools program continued during the 2012/2013 period being delivered to Kirwan State High School, William Ross State High School, Thuringowa State High School, Oonoonba State School and St Patrick’s College, The Strand. This program facilitates high level hands-on arts education by engaging a local artist to work with teachers and students at a Townsville region high school. Gallery Services employs the artist to work at the school over an extended period to develop an exhibition deliverable with teachers and students. The artworks created within this period then form an exhibition at either Perc Tucker Regional Gallery or Pinnacles Gallery, where the students’ achievement is celebrated.

Creative Classroom E-newsEach Term during 2013, Gallery Services delivered an e-news bulletin targeting teachers with the latest exhibitions and programs that Pinnacles Gallery and Perc Tucker Regional Gallery were offering.

Education Resource KitsGallery Services continued to provide high quality, in-house education kits to unpack and guide teachers and students through the exhibitions on show at each of the galleries. These kits, produced by the education and design teams were created in response to exhibitions and designed with reference to the Department of education and Training, Queensland’s Visual Art Syllabus. Education kits were available for download from the Gallery websites as well as hard copies available in both Galleries.

Guest Lecture SeriesThe Guest Lecture Series builds on Gallery Service’s exhibition program at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery by taking high profile visitors into our high schools to deliver artist talks to senior school students. During the 2012/2013 period the Guest Lecture Series saw leading figures with the arts industry such as George Gittoes, Stephen Dupont, HA-HA (Regan Tamanui) and Adrian Davies and Lubi Thomas visit William Ross State High School, Pimlico High School, Kirwan State High School, Townsville Grammar School and Townsville State High School.

QATAQueensland Art Teachers Association (QATA) meetings are held twice a term at Pinnacles Gallery, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Umbrella Studios. These meetings provide an opportunity for art teachers to meet, collaborate and engage with the arts sector. During these meetings Gallery Services conducts evaluation and feedback sessions to inform its Creative Classrooms programs and strategies.

U3AHeld each month, University of the Third Age (U3A) members are provided a personalised guided tour of current exhibitions at Pinnicles Gallery and Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and a morning tea.

Creative Classrooms: workshops, programs and initiatives

Top right: Regan HA-Ha Tamanui talking with students during a Guest Lecture Series talk

Bottom right:Joanne Gerke showing students works from the City of Townsville Art Collection



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.

In the period 2012/13, one of Gallery Services’ major project was the development of a framework for a City of Townsville Art Collection: Digitisation Project, which was subsequently endorsed by Townsville City Council.

The City of Townsville Art Collection is recognised as one of Australia’s finest regional collections of art showcasing the cultural development and diversity of “art of North Queensland” and the Townsville region. The Collection presently holds 2700 works of art comprised of works on paper, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, photomedia/film, textiles, jewellery, artists’ books and mixed media.

The significance of digitising this Collection cannot be understated, and its successful realisation of the will provide a number of profound benefits for Townsville City Council, Gallery Services and the Townsville community. Benefits identified include - but are not limited to:

• Unprecedented access to the City of Townsville Art Collection for the regions’ community, students, visitors and key stakeholders

• Unprecedented access to the City of Townsville Art Collection to industry colleagues, organisations, institutions, governmental bodies world-wide

• Fosters promotion and enhancement of the City of Townsville Art Collection as a cultural asset of the region to world-wide audiences

• Provides a platform that fosters and promotes the development of local, regional, national and international collaborative projects involving the City of Townsville Art Collection that are presently unrealised

• Provides a platform through which artists of north Queensland held in the City of Townsville Art Collection are able to promote and further develop their arts practice

• Provides an opportunity for Gallery Services to exceed current industry trends and benchmarks in the delivery of core service objectives involving collections management; exhibition management and delivery; public programs and educative delivery; print and digital media publication management and delivery; audience development and engagement; and multimedia management and development.

• Fosters staff development and skills enhancement through ongoing training and implementation of industry leading service level delivery

• Recognition and promotion of significant cultural gifts made to the Townsville community and Townsville City Council by local and national art collectors and artists

Improvements to systems and procedures relating to preservation matting, preservation framing, and high quality image capture and reproduction have also been implemented. These across-the-board improvements will have a long-lasting impact on the successful management of the City of Townsville Art Collection, but most immediately the effects of these improvements can be seen in the quality of exhibition presentation.

A fine example of these improvements was the major exhibition Hypercathexis, a survey exhibition of prints by Queensland artist Carolyn Dodds. The exhibition, curated by Sue Forster, the Editor of IMPRINT, the Print Council of Australia’s quarterly magazine, featured relief and intaglio prints and artist books spanning some forty years, and paid tribute to the artist’s inventiveness, masterly drawing and compositional skills, and dedication to the art and craft of printmaking.

Hypercathexis was widely applauded by visitors for not only the quality of the artist’s work, but the refined aesthetic of the exhibition. This resulted from extensive work by Gallery Services staff that saw the cutting of specialised mats and framing of some 70 individual prints, all utilising archival standard materials. Upon the exhibition’s completion, these prints were returned to the artist in the mounts for her enduring benefit.

A total of 110 prints by the artist were also photographed to professional standards and edited in order to be utilised in the beautiful catalogue that accompanied the exhibition. These photographs were also provided to the artist for her future use, which could translate to greater ease in the artist marketing or selling her work.

A major difficulty faced by Gallery Services is the limited storage space available, and this difficulty is acutely felt in the area of Collection Storage. A significant milestone achieved in the 2012/13 financial year was the establishment of a 20-rack collection storage system in the Pinnacles Gallery back of house area, which will now be utilised to house the photographic subsection of the City of Townsville Art Collection.

The establishment of this space alleviates art collection storage issues in the short term, and has also enabled the creative re-use of space across both Galleries. This has resulted in the establishment of a workshop, also in the Pinnacles Gallery back of house area, which will ease production of artwork mats, frames, and exhibition furniture, and in the future enable Gallery Services to offer on loan standard frmes for works on paper to community members when exhibiting at Gallery Services venues.

Collections Management

George GITTOESLegless Bike Cambodia [detail] 1993Oil on canvas173 x 380cm Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program 2013

COLLECTIONSMANAGEMENT



2012/13 proved to be another major year in the development of the City of Townsville Art Collection, particularly with respect to the quality of artworks acquired, many of which featured in major exhibitions held across Gallery Services’ peak gallery venues in recent years. As such, these acquisitions strengthen the Collection’s standing as a significant historical and cultural asset for the region and community.

In total, 27 artworks were formally accepted into the Collection, at a total value of $123,840. Most importantly, $98,670 worth of artworks donated this financial year, either directly from artists, collectors, or through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program.

This enthusiasm to gift works to the City of Townsville Art Collection is indicative of the regard with which the Collection is held, and of the national significance of Townsville City Council’s premier art galleries, administered by Gallery Services, in attracting such favourable recognition within the arts sector.

The Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program encourages Australians to donate items of cultural significance from private collections to public art galleries, museums, libraries and archives. Gifts can range from paintings, books, sculptures, manuscripts and personal papers to jewellery, ceramics—even entire technological, mechanical, scientific or social history collections.

The program has proven to be particularly beneficial for the development of the City of Townsville Art Collection in 2012/13, with significant donations made through the program during this period by artists G W Bot, Barbara Cheshire, David Rowe, Anneke Silver and Margaret Wilson, and by collectors Mr Michael Bater and Mr Harley Gittoes (works by George Gittoes) and ASX Limited (work by Graeme Inson).

Perhaps the most significant acquisition in this financial period was the donation of George Gittoes’ Legless Bike Cambodia by Mr Michael Bater through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program. The Australian Army had commissioned Gittoes to record in photographs, drawings and paintings its peace-keeping efforts in Somalia, Cambodia, Western Sahara, the Middle East and the Sinai from 1993-95. Military personnel stationed in Townsville were on a selection of these missions.

Legless Bike Cambodia was painted in situ in a Cambodian hut, near Ankor Wot, while the artist was with Australian troops during a peace-keeping mission in 1993. The work includes many figures and scenes that were the subjects of his drawings, loose leaf diary pages, and smaller oils—particularly the legless bike man, who Gittoes saw as a symbol of hope and inspiration for Cambodia’s resilience and adaptability.

Having secured his time to deliver free stencil art workshops for Townsville’s youth thanks largely to a RADF grant, internationally recognised street artist HA-HA has also kindly donated the first edition of two works on paper, Maori Chief, and Maori Chief Natai.

Further, $25,170 worth of artwork was acquired in 2012/13 through the Gallery’s major acquisitive exhibitions; Catherine Lane’s No burden winning the 2012 North Queensland Potters Association Awards, works by Laura Castell, Emily Hill and Barbara Pierce acquired through the Townsville Art Society Annual Awards, and Kevin Lincoln’s Self Portrait, which was judged the winner of the 2012 Xstrata Percival Portrait Award by esteemed judge Mr Barry Pearce.

These works serve to form a permanent record of the very best submissions to some of the region’s most prestigious art prizes. To this end, the donation of Barbara Cheshire’s Jack, which won the very first Percival Portrait Award in 2007- prior to the award becoming acquisitive – is also of great significance to the City of Townsville Art Collection.

The period 2012/13 also saw the completion of payment for the major work Looking Back (Baucau) by Melbourne artist Jon Cattapan, and the Gallery Acquisition Working Group’s in-principle approval to purchase Bill Yaxley’s painting Riverway, Townsville. The work is of significance to the region, will be used to inform the 2014 Annual Children’s Exhibition, and has been made available to Gallery Services at a reduced rate.

Acquisitions Overview

David ROWESymbiosis 2007Oil on canvas180 x 129.5cmDonated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program


Dimensions refer to the image or object size unless otherwise stated

Art of the TropicsDonna BENINGFIELDRaymond 2010Acrylic on canvas120 x 100cmGift of the artist

Laura CASTELLWhat’s inside? 2011Woodcut & chine-collé 51 x 33cm Acquisitive Prize, 2011, Townsville Art Society Awards

Barbara CHESHIREJack 2007Acrylic on canvas182 x 170 cm Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program

Denis HARDYOn the slipOil on board29.5 x 37.5cmDonated by Sandy Mattern

Emily HILLPheasant Coucals 2012Linocut86 x 120cmAcquisitive Prize, 2012, Townsville Art Society Awards

Evan MORGANTroops from Delta Company 2RAR from Mirwais Forward Patrol Base patrol near Chora, Afghanistan. LT Chris Thompson-Lang , engineer troop commander Delta Company pass locals on the street. 2011Photograph30.4 x 45.7cm

Jenny MULCAHYOpen Cut 2006Ceramic and glass32 x 54cm diam. Gift of the artist

Eric NASHEl Jefe 2012Stencil and collage, ed. 2/1240 x 28.5cm (image); 76 x 56cm (paper)Gift of the artist

Barbara PIERCEPerformance 2011 Acrylic on canvas44.5 x 44.5cm (image)Acquisitive Prize, 2011, Townsville Art Society Awards

David ROWESymbiosis 2007Oil on canvas180 x 129.5cmDonated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program

Anneke SILVERSong of the Gorge 2004Mixed media on canvasEach panel approx:121 x 125cm (Total 245 x 385cm) Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program

Margaret WILSONEtude Blue 2011Oil on linen85 x 147cm Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program

Art Acquisitions 2012/2013



Catherine LANENo burden 2011Anagama fired50 x 14 x 10cmAcquisitive Prize, 2012, North Queensland Potters Association Awards


Australian ArtG W BOTAncestral Journeys 1994Linocut on Khadi paper75.8 x 57cmDonated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program

The Keeper 2002Linocut on Magnani paper92 x 52cmDonated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program

The Rock 1994Linocut on Khadi paper75.8 x 57cmDonated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program

Elegy 1999Linocut on BFK paper56 x 76cmDonated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program

George GITTOESLegless Bike Cambodia 1993Oil on canvas173 x 380cm Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program

Untitled c.1993Oil on canvas40 x 50.3cmDonated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Harley Gittoes

HA-HA Maori Chief ‘Natai’ 2013Aerosol on paper, ed. 1/5070 x 34cm Gift of the Artist

Maori Chief 2013Aerosol on paper, ed. 1/5070 x 34 cm Gift of the Artist

Graeme INSONStock Exchange, Charters Towers 1976Oil on board59.5 x 49.5cmDonated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by ASX Limited

Catherine LANENo burden 2011Anagama fired50 x 14 x 10cmAcquisitive Prize, 2012, North Queensland Potters Association Awards

Kevin LINCOLNSelf-portrait 2012Oil on canvas95 x 155cmAcquisitive Prize, 2012, Xstrata Percival Portrait Award

[study for self-portrait] 2011Charcoal on paper57 x 76cm (paper size)Gift of the artist

Indigenous ArtUNKNOWNUntitled Ochre on bark59.5 x 34.5cmDonated by Sandy Mattern

UntitledOchre on bark51.2 x 35.5cm diam. Donated by Sandy Mattern

G W BOTThe Keeper [detail] 2002Linocut on Magnani paper92 x 52cmDonated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program



In 2012/13, Gallery Services untertook its most rigorous surveying of patrons and members to date.

Annual Surveys for each venue were developed, which will be refined and continually undertaken in future years. These surveys were made available through physical and online mediums, and sought feedback from patrons on preferred methods of information delivery, types of exhibitions and programs. These surveys were also open to unstructured feedback to inform Gallery Services’ activities, and collected data on visitation patterns.

Feedback from the Annual Survey was informative and positive. Importantly, more than 95% of visitors’ comments in the Visitors Books also expressed satisfaction with the Galleries’ exhibitions, accompanying programs and activities, and the warm welcome and assistance received from staff and volunteers.

Further to surveying of the Gallery members and contacts, Gallery Services participated in Museum and Gallery Services Queensland’s Guess Who’s Going to the Gallery: A Strategic Audience Evaluation and Development Study for Queensland Galleries across both Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery.

In 2012, with project funding from the Australia Council for the Arts and Arts Queensland, Museum & Gallery Services Queensland (M&GSQ) partnered with M&G NSW to undertake this parallel study of 18 regional Queensland public galleries. As in the previous NSW Study, each gallery received training on data collection and a bespoke report of their results. A total of 3041 responses were collected across the eighteen galleries and were collated into a Queensland Report, released in 2013.

The data from this process provided Gallery Services an indication as to how it is performing against regional galleries state wide, and also the wants and needs of the Townsville and broader Queensland arts community. This information will assist Gallery Services in programmings exhibitions, educative and public programs that appeal to and engage the community, in-line with the developed Visual Arts Strategy. Excerpts from this data is included at the rear of this Annual Report.

Gallery Services: surveying and community feedback

artist talk

openings

art lectures

35% 21%

13%

Gallery Services Visitors 2012-2013Did you know? The average visitor to Perc Tucker Regional Gallery in 2012-2013 was most likely to be: female (65%), 30 - 60 years old (53%), and would be visiting alone (48%) once a month (46%) for 30-60 minutes (70%).

Visitors in 2012-2013 preferred to receive their Gallery news and information via:

On the other hand... the average visitor to Pinnacles Gallery in 2012-2013 was most likely to be: female (65%), 30 - 60 years old (53%), and would be visiting alone (48%) once a month (46%) for 30-60 minutes (70%).

Visitors most wanted exhibitions featuring:

Visitors from both Galleries received the bulk of their updates direct from

the Gallery (75% and 55%). For Pinnacles this was followed by Info on the internet (9%) and word-of-mouth

(5%), whereas for Perc Tucker this was word-of-mouth (15%) followed by Townsville Bulletin (9%).

Potential workshop or event attendees most wanted to see more:exhibition openings (20%)artist/floor talks (18%)art lectures (17%).They were visiting to: see a specific exhibition

(Perc Tucker)attend an event or workshop

(Pinnacles)be entertained

share the experiencewith friends/family

42/43%

14% 13%/11%

13%

Surveys:Museum & Gallery Services Queensland 2012 visitor surveyAnnual Gallery Services survey completed via SurveyMonkey and paper survey from 1 January 2013 - 1 April 2013

(based on 97 respondantsanswering multiple preferences)



(based on 97 respondants answering multiple preferences)

national artists(11%)

touring works(10%)

or local artists (9%)

(based on annual visitor statistics survey by MAGSQ)

(based on 97 respondants answering multiple preferences)




Perc Tucker Regional GalleryPerc Tucker Regional Gallery is located in one of Townsville’s finest heritage buildings, on the corner of Denham and Flinders Streets, in the city centre. The Gallery has a ground floor and first floor level with seven exhibition spaces. On display are works by north Queensland artists as well as national and international touring exhibitions. Guided group exhibition tours are available upon request and prior bookings are essential.

For further information, please contact :

Perc Tucker Regional GalleryCorner Denham and Flinders Streets, Townsville QLD 4810 (07) 4727 9011 [email protected] www.bit.ly/ptrgtcc @TCC_PercTucker /PercTuckerTCC

Opening HoursMonday - Friday 10am - 5pmSaturday - Sunday 10am - 2pmClosed Public Holidays, Free Admission

Gallery ServicesThrough Gallery Services, Townsville City Council owns and operates two premier regional galleries, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery in the city’s CBD, and Pinnacles Gallery located within the Riverway Arts Centre in Thuringowa Central.


Pinnacles GalleryPinnacles Gallery opened in March 1996 as part of the Thuringowa Library and Council complex. The Gallery provided a space for the display of a diversity of art, social history and educational exhibitions to serve the needs of Thuringowa’s residents and visitors at the time. Pinnacles Gallery moved in 2006 to a purpose-built gallery within the Riverway Arts Centre – the only purpose-built gallery in Townsville. The space offers a multitude of ways to present artwork and has the capacity to deliver multi-media artwork presentations. Guided group exhibition tours are available upon request and prior bookings are essential.

For further information, please contact:

Pinnacles Gallery20 Village Boulevard, Townsville QLD 4817 (07) 4773 8871 [email protected] www.bit.ly/pinntcc @TCC_Pinnacles /PinnaclesTCC

Opening HoursTuesday - Sunday 10am - 5pmMonday and Public Holidays Closed, Free Admission

Documents

Gallery services annual report 2012/13