Queensland Art Gallery Annual Report 2003-04

25 as the primary information tool on Gallery programming for the general public. Artlines , the quarterly magazine, published an engaging range of articles relating to the Gallery's exhibitions, events, Collection and programs and was distributed to Friends and Foundation members, sponsors and media. Artmail , the Gallery's e-bulletin service, continued to provide information electronically to a growing subscriber group. GALLERY STORE The Gallery Store hosted several high-profile and well-attended book launches during 2003–04. Artist John Rigby was in attendance at the launch of the John Millington book John Rigby — Art and Life held at the Gallery on 26 November. John Rigby, a great contributor to Queensland's cultural life, served as a Gallery Trustee from 1969 to 1987. The launch coincided with a display of Rigby's work in Gallery 11. Angus Trumble, Curator of Paintings and Sculpture at the Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, Connecticut — who was previously at the Gallery as curator of 'Love and Death: Art in the Age of Queen Victoria' in 2002 — launched his book A Brief History of the Smile on 30 March. Then, on 21 April, the Gallery hosted a book launch with a difference. The unique and sensationally sized book GOAT ['Greatest of All Time'] : A Tribute to Muhammad Ali was designed by well-known American artist Jeff Koons. The launch was attended by local sporting greats and Joe Bugner, the only Australian boxer to have fought Ali. During 2003–04, the Store also managed the exhibition shop for the 'Pierre Bonnard: Observing Nature' exhibition, and produced an extensive range of merchandise for the 'Story Place' exhibition. The Store's external sales program extended its reach into far north Queensland in September 2003 with visits to four schools and five libraries in the Cairns and Townsville region. In total, the external sales program included around 200 visits to schools and libraries in Brisbane, the western Darling Downs, northern New South Wales, and far north Queensland. ACCESS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY For the first time, a website accompanied the Gallery's annual National Youth Week event in 2004. Designed by the Gallery's Design and Web and Multimedia staff, the dynamic Prime 04: art+music+video website showcased the musicians, performers, artists and events that made the fourth instalment of Prime such a success. Specially designed interactive websites for the children's exhibition 'Lost and Found' and the travelling exhibition 'Pop: The Continuing Influence of Popular Culture on Contemporary Art' were also produced to enhance the visitor experience. The 'Pop' website's e-card design competition saw a Takashi Murakami 'Mr Dob' doll awarded to three young designers. A review of the Gallery's web-based information systems resulted in a website redevelopment project to launch a significantly improved online presence before the end of 2004. The Gallery's redeveloped website will take advantage of online technologies for electronic publishing, service delivery and commercial opportunities. SERVICES TO REGIONAL QUEENSLAND Three exhibitions toured to nine venues in regional Queensland during the reporting period. The touring component of 'Story Place: Indigenous Art of Cape York and the Rainforest' launched its tour at Hervey Bay Regional Gallery, while 'Exploring Outback: Artists' Responses to Life on the Land' concluded its ten-venue tour at Artspace Mackay. 'Pop: The Continuing Influence of Popular Culture on Contemporary Art' travelled to six of its eight-venue itinerary. Extensive support material and services accompanied the tours of both 'Story Place' and 'Pop', and Gallery staff travelled to regional centres to assist venue staff set up and dismantle exhibitions. Both exhibitions were supported by education kits and online resources, while 'Story Place' also incorporated video artist interviews produced by the Gallery. Gallery staff provided advice and support to regional gallery and arts workers regarding professional practices, and were involved in workshops, lectures, talks, consultancy services, and in the judging of art awards and prizes during the reporting year. The Gallery also hosted Off the Wall: Sustaining Good Practice, the Regional Galleries Association of Queensland seminar program on 31 May and 1 June 2004. RECONCILIATION The Gallery's commitment to reconciliation recognises the need to enhance the economic, social and cultural wellbeing of Indigenous people, and the 'Story Place' project ensured the Gallery met its commitment in a number of ways (see report on p.20). Accordingly, on 30 September 2003, the Premier of Queensland and Minister for Trade, the Honourable Peter Beattie, MP , announced the Queensland Art Gallery as the winner in the Joint Ventures Large Business Category of the 2003 Queensland Government Reconciliation Awards for Business for the 'Story Place: Indigenous Art of Cape York and the Rainforest' project. GALLERY MEMBERSHIP The Friends of the Queensland Art Gallery and the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation perform integral roles for the Gallery. Through the activities of the Friends and the Foundation, the Gallery receives immense support in two key areas — fostering and enhancing public appreciation of the visual arts, and fundraising for the development of the Gallery's Collection and exhibition programs. The Friends actively involve the community in the mission and activities of the Gallery, bringing art and people together. The Friends' diary of excursions, 'Wake up to art!' presentations, monthly luncheons, and coffee and film mornings ensured members got the most out of their interactions with the Gallery's Collection and exhibition programs. In 2003 the Foundation launched the highly successful Indigenous Australian Art Appeal which added 27 important works to the Gallery's Collection. These paintings dated from the late 1950s to the early 1970s and came from four major art-producing regions — Arnhem Land, the Central Desert, the northern coast of Western Australia and Queensland's Cape York. For full details of the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation operations and activities, please refer to the separate Annual Report produced by the Foundation.