Queensland Art Gallery Annual report 1999-2000

n tomaton & Educaton As in any public art museum, major responsibilities of the Third Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, a staff involved in curatorial and collection development study of the career of Betty Quelhurst, documentation of and education and access programs are: the work of Queensland pictorialist photographer Rose • to develop, research, document and interpret the Simmonds, and a video highlighting the work of the Collection; and German modernist Erich Buchholz. • to provide professional services to support the The Curatorial Research Committee was initiated to Gallery's Collection and Exhibition-based programs. increase intellectual debate within the Gallery and encourage more effective incorporation of research To facilitate these crucial functions, this year a successful findings into publications, websites, displays, children's new committee structure was introduced to the Gallery activities and other interpretive programs for the benefit The committees (Acquisitions, Research, Collection and enjoyment of our audiences. The strategy of raising Management, and Display) meet monthly and much core the profile of research activities at the Gallery was business is actioned or discussed in these forums. reflected in the establishment of the Conservation section's new Vidicon infra-red equipment. Public RESEARCH AND INTERPRETATION interest in conservation and restoration was stimulated Research into the Collection was published by staff and by the incorporation of information about conservation external specialists in a variety of formats including techniques in a didactic panel for the recently purchased books, catalogues, education brochures, websites, work, The blue Alice, by Charles Blackman. An article on research papers, theses, didactic material, television the same work was also published in Artlines, the documentaries, and videos, and through participation in magazine published by the Friends of the Gallery, conferences and seminars in Australia and overseas, sparking an interested readership. Gallery publications reached national and The Research Curator (Queensland Heritage) was international audiences when a formal distribution instrumental in researching and developing the agreement was entered into with publisher Thames & exhibition 'Lady Woodcarvers of Rockhampton' in Hudson. Several publications including those for the conjunction with the Rockhampton Art Gallery. The First, Second and Third Asia-Pacific Triennials, Brought to successful exhibition opened at Rockhampton Art Light: Australian Art 1865-1965, Francesco Con-_ and the Gallery on 8 April 2000 as part of Beef 2000, a major Intermedia Avant-Garde, The Inspired Dream and Erich beef producers' expo. In keeping with the Gallery's role Buchholz: The Restless Avant-Gardist are now distributed in researching and documenting Queensland art history, in Europe and Asia as well as throughout Australasia. the project and its accompanying publication ensured a Strong sales of Brought to Light necessitated a reprint of unique feature of Central Queensland arts heritage was the publication, preserved and made accessible to both the local and A particularly important initiative was the wider communities. establishment of the position of Audiovisual Project Underpinning research functions is the Library, Officer. This position allows the Gallery to produce in- which supports research into the Collection, current house documentary videos, available to the public for acquisitions and the development of exhibitions, viewing during specific displays and exhibitions. The displays and publications through a range of resources Queensland Art Gallery now leads the field among State and information services. A project commenced with the art galleries in this innovative interpretive method. assistance of volunteers to identify, document and make Videos already produced include several associated with accessible Queensland heritage research material.