Queensland Art Gallery Annual Report 1997-98

Director's Report During the 1997-98 year, the Gallery has continued to provide an innovative focus for the visual arts in Queensland. A number of significant national and international exhibitions were presented, and attention has been given to developing the Collection and improving access to the works, and expanding services to a diversity of publics. There has been an increased focus on children and youth programs, and the Gallery has continued to provide exhibitions and other services to regional Queensland, and to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to Indigenous Australian and contemporary Asian art. The refinement of management structures has continued, with new operational and strategic plans developed and approved this year. One of the most significant aspects this year, and the one that has absorbed much of the Director's time, is the planned development of a new Gallery of Modern Art. Since 1990, the Queensland Art Gallery has been bringing to the attention of respective governments the limitations of the existing building, endorsed a new master plan for the QCC 2000 Project. This includes an $80 million Queensland Gallery of Modern Art to be located at the northern end of the site bounded by Stanley Street, Montague Road, Peel Street and Grey Street, overlooking Kurilpa Point. At the launch of this plan on 17 December, the Deputy Premier announced that Cabinet had endorsed an architect selection competition for the Gallery of Modern Art. Following the State election on 13 June 1998, the new Labor government headed by Peter Beattie and sworn in on 29 June 1998 has confirmed its support in principle for the development of this new Gallery. The proposed Queensland Gallery of Modern Art will provide a 130 per cent increase in space for the Gallery, 75 per cent of which will be directed to public access or benefit. Information technology will play a critical role in the Gallery's operational management and management of the State Collection, to ensure that its functions across both sites are structured in an integrated, complementary and adaptable manner. It will also facilitate the delivery of information and other client services to Gallery visitors and to remote access users. Another important development during the year was the reinstallation of the Collection galleries, the first since 1988, which included the creation of dedicated galleries for Indigenous Australian art and contemporary Asian art. and resultant difficulties in maintaining service standards across A major highlight was the landmark exhibition, 'Emily Kame a range of program activities. Over the past four years the Kngwarreye - Alhalkere - Paintings from Utopia'. This was the Gallery has been actively engaged in formulating its first retrospective exhibition of an Aboriginal artist held in this requirements, and researching and preparing a suitable brief country by a public institution, and the first time an exhibition and architect selection process. On 15 December 1997 Cabinet devoted to an Indigenous artist has toured nationally. 8 Proposed site of the new Queensland Gallery of Modern Art at Kurilpa Point site from North Quay. Opposite· KAPOOR, Anish England b.1954 Void (#13) 1991-92 Fibreglass and pigment 161 (diam.) x 120cm Purchased 1998. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation