REPORT:
2019 was a year of significant change for Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (QVMAG), including the finalisation of the Organisational Alignment Project (OAP) and the arrival of a number of new staff members. 2020 heralds the start of much that is new for the QVMAG and the Museum will move forward with a great sense of optimism and excitement. This report is a new annual initiative intended to provide a summary of the past year's highlights, and opportunities and priorities for the year ahead.
COLLECTIONS:
The QVMAG has been the very fortunate recipient of a major butterfly collection, which is currently arriving. Ian Knight, who collected the specimens across 50 years is now (at 90) a volunteer in the natural sciences laboratories where he working to transition his life's work into the Museum's collections. This is a major acquisition for the QVMAG and is of enormous interest to the national science community. The collection perfectly complements the Museum's focus on entomology and brings an enhanced relevance to the historic QVMAG collections. Extending this focus is the fieldwork undertaken by the QVMAG's science team, with David Maynard and Simon Fearn visiting King Island and the Furneaux group for the third year this summer. The invaluable work being undertaken is revealing a fascinating climate change story, as the known habitat of many insect species extending further south is watched. City of Launceston
The Museum is planning a special celebration of its furniture collection later in the year, where specialist restorers will be invited to work on some of the Museum's most important historic pieces in public. The Tasmanian craft traditions of furniture making are a rich part of QVMAG collection history. The fascinating art of restoration is too interesting to keep to the Museum alone so it has been decided to share it 'live'. This series of 'slow events' continues the theme of bringing 'back of house to front of house' and connects the Museum to friends and colleagues in cultural institutions around the globe for 'slow art day' on 4 April 2020.
As part of the QVMAG's audit process, a review of the Museum's entire holdings of material related to the Chinese history of Launceston has been undertaken with textiles, temple arts, workers clothing, medicines and domestic artefacts being investigated: QVMAG holds one of the most fascinating and historic collections of Australian Chinese material in the country. The Museum is looking forward to providing the database of this material online so the wider community can discover it.
The team has almost completed the over 600 individual works by the botanical artist Margaret Stones. When completed this collection will also be available to the wider public on the searchable database.
EXHIBITIONS:
The exhibition program for 2020 is now available on the QVMAG website. The next two artists the Museum will be working in collaboration with are Ann Zahalka and Alistair Mooney, who will both directly address the Museum's collections in their exhibitions. Ann Zahalka is a highly esteemed Australian photographer and will be revisiting the collection's historic dioramas with an updated take on the meaning of museum collections in the light of contemporary environmental issues. Alistair Mooney is one of the rising stars of the local art scene and has a growing national reputation as one to watch. This will be his first solo show, where he will meditate on the meaning of the place he knows best: Low Head.
The Art Gallery has enjoyed incredible success with Josh Foley during MONA FOMA: it had 331 visitors through on the Saturday and 394 on the Sunday, with large takings in the shop and café on both days. The audiences were a significant shift in demographics for the Museum, with front of house staff noting young people were visiting in large numbers. The QVMAG's strategy of directly addressing MONA FOMA tourists has been a great outcome and this trend will be continued to ensure that the Museum's work with MONA FOMA has lasting benefits for the wider Launceston community. Calculating Infinity will take pride of place at the Art Gallery for much of this year but will continue to evolve and provide a jumping-off point for a range of associated programmes and activities.
After 10 years, the much-loved aircraft in Tas Connections - Miss Flinders - has come to the end of her extended visit to the QVMAG. The aircraft will returned to her owners, the Commonwealth Government. City of Launceston
Other exhibitions coming up include Living Loving Launceston - an exhibition of the Launceston Arts Society; Gary Greenwood masks and a triennial exhibition with Arts Tasmania exploring the stories of 10 objects. The QVMAG is also currently in discussion to host Tasdance in one of the main galleries to develop new work in situ.
The Museum's major future project for the Art Gallery is a rehang of the permanent collection, as the Colonial and Federation exhibitions have been up for many years and whilst cherished, are no longer as relevant to many of our new and younger communities. Many fellow institutions throughout the country are also embarking on similar projects.
LEARNING:
The Learning Team now encompasses Education, Public Programmes and the Planetarium.
Vicki West, The Museum's new Aboriginal Learning Facilitator, joined the team on the 6 February 2020 and there has been a very positive response from schools to this expansion of the Museum's offerings.
The team is looking at a number of new ways of offering programmes this year. These include changing the focus of Playgroup to Discovery Play. The School Holiday Program has also been reshaped with the help of all of the Museum's curatorial departments. In all instances, the Museum is keen to reduce barriers and increase participation by lowering costs. Plans are also underway for interactive online educational resources and outreach programs.
Science Week is in the early stages of planning; this year's theme is Deep Blue Ocean.
Planning for this week's NAIDOC week has also begun. The QVMAG is working with Aboriginal artists to create statements that speak to this year's theme: Always was, always will be Aboriginal Land.
REDEVELOPMENT:
An important focus for 2020 will be putting plans and practices in place that set the Museum in good stead for a sustainable and successful future. Arising from the Cultural Strategy, the Museum is looking forward to working towards new conceptual and physical plans that leverage its strengths, maximise the potential of its relationship with the University of Tasmania (UTAS) and position the QVMAG as a Centre of Excellence for Northern Tasmania. City of Launceston
The QVMAG is looking forward to the start of works for the UTAS redevelopment and the associated opportunities to ensure that there is the strongest possible alignment between UTAS and the QVMAG. The first priority is looking at ways in which a redevelopment of The Phenomena Factory can support an innovative approach to museum-based teaching and learning, as well as working in partnership with The Underwood Centre and The Children's University.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT:
MGAB (Museum Governance Advisory Board) As noted in the OAP report, a Governance Transition Plan is key to determining the Governance structure QVMAG will need to guide it into the next stage of its evolution as a contemporary and dynamic cultural institution. This is a significant turning point in the Museum's history and rigorous community and stakeholder input into the discussion will be vital. It is envisaged that the MGAB will play a key role on the Governance Working Group that will be established to support this process.
ARG (Aboriginal Reference Group) In the middle of the year QVMAG staff and Tasmanian Aboriginal elders will participate in the repatriation of Māori human remains to the National Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa. Te Papa staff usually uplift any remains themselves, but in this instance, the QVMAG has been entrusted to accompany the tūpuna (ancestors) home. This is a unique and special honour and is very much in recognition of the status accorded to indigenous Australians by their New Zealand counterparts.
Friends of the Museum The QVMAG is currently moving towards electronic communication for the Friends of the Museum to ensure that information is more up to date and easily accessible for members. This will also save money and resources that can be better used in support of other Friends' activities. The Museum is also planning a Workshop to look at the way that the QVMAG and the Friends work together and what changes need to be made (if any) to set both parties up for success and a sustainable future.
The Friends' Committee is currently planning their schedule of coffee morning speakers and other activities for 2020. It is anticipated that there will be a strong involvement with Science Week, as with previous years.
Art Gallery Guides In 2020 the Art Gallery Guides and QVMAG will establish a new forward plan, which builds on their interest in working with dementia patients as a means of giving new meaning to the Museum's collections along with expanding its reach into the community. This work will start once a Public Programmes Officer has been appointed to QVMAG. City of Launceston
Arts Foundation The Foundation had an extremely active year in 2019 and the Museum looks forward to continuing to work with the Arts Foundation to enhance its collections. The following highlights have been taken from the Arts Foundation Annual Report.
Ben Quilty Launch, 3 May 2019, Royal Park Approximately 60 guests attended the ‘soft launch’ of the new work purchased by the Foundation - a large Ben Quilty piece entitled Development Application with strong references to John Glover. QVMAG's Director,Tracy Puklowski spoke, as did the Foundation Chairman, Jennie Caswell and Ashley Bird of QVMAG. This event and artwork - and the Masterpieces for Tasmania Project generally - received excellent publicity. The effort was further enhanced by the donation by Mr Quilty of an etching to auction for fundraising purposes. This work achieved the reserved price and went to a collector in Melbourne.
Gallery Tour, 6 - 9 September 2019, Brisbane Thirteen self-funded supporters of QVMAG and the Arts Foundation travelled to Brisbane visiting a number of galleries and progressing the Foundation’s brief to increase members’ understanding and appreciation of art and their knowledge of other galleries and artists. The group, led by Jennie Caswell, visited the Philip Bacon Gallery, the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) and the William Robinson Elixir of Light exhibition at Old Government House. The GOMA visit was informed by guided tours of the Ben Quilty and Margaret Olley exhibitions.
Welcome Afternoon Tea, 19 September 2019, Royal Park This event followed the Arts Foundation Annual General Meeting at Royal Park and was the first opportunity for the expanded Foundation membership to meet since the Constitution was changed and ratified.
Black Tie Ticketed Dinner, 15 November 2019, Inveresk This event attracted 70 guests at $250.00 per person. It featured a preliminary phase during which guests were taken by bus to Royal Park to see the Ben Quilty painting in situ, to hear curator Ashley Watling speak, to see artist Josh Foley at work in Gallery One and to view the Tom Roberts works that have been donated to the Gallery. A formal dinner followed back at Inveresk, hosted by Jennie Caswell, with addresses by Karen Quinlan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery and Tracy Puklowski. An auction of art works and other items donated by Foundation Members and their families was conducted by Charles Headlam. City of Launceston
O’Flaherty Bequest A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by Professor Coleman O’Flaherty, the Chairman of the Foundation and the QVMAG General Manager setting down the terms of a pre-existing bequest in memory of Professor O’Flaherty’s late wife, Nuala. The value of the bequest is $250,000. It will fund a keynote speaker either annually or bi-annually to present at a significant cultural and/or academic event held under the auspices of the QVMAG. The Foundation and the City are greatly indebted to Professor O’Flaherty for his ongoing generosity and to John Cauchi for his assistance with this process.
Constitutional Changes The Arts Foundation has been reviewing its operations and structure with the aim of securing its future viability by strengthening its membership base and simplifying its operation. A Strategic Planning Sub-Committee was set up to achieve this aim. It was considered that the aims and objectives of the Foundation and its sub-group, the Herbert Scott Society (HSS), were so closely aligned that the two should be combined. To that end all HSS members were to be invited to accept membership of the Foundation without any need for further financial contribution. This change was ratified at the Annual General Meeting held on 19 September 2019.
ECONOMIC IMPACT:
The redevelopment of QVMAG stands to have a significant economic impact on the City, as it will drive more tourism to Launceston and may create employment opportunities in time.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Moving to electronic communication for The Friends will lessen our environmental impact.
SOCIAL IMPACT:
Many of QVMAG's activities and programmes are intended to attract new audiences to the Museum, particularly those communities that have previously been under-represented. City of Launceston
STRATEGIC DOCUMENT REFERENCE:
City of Launceston Corporate Strategic Plan 2014-2024 Strategic Priority 2: We facilitate prosperity by seeking out and responding to opportunities for growth and renewal of our regional economy.
10-Year Goal: To have realised opportunities that grow and sustain our economy and foster creative and innovative people and industries.
Focus Areas:
1. To actively market the City and region and pursue investment.
4. To promote tourism and the development of a quality tourism offering for Launceston.
Strategic Priority 4: We value our City's unique identity by celebrating our special heritage and culture and building on our competitive advantages to be a place where people choose to live, work and visit.
10-Year Goal: To sustain and promote Launceston as a unique place to live, work, learn and play.
Focus Areas:
1. To promote and enhance Launceston’s rich heritage, culture and natural environment.
BUDGET & FINANCIAL ASPECTS: Not considered relevant to this report.
DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS: The officer has no conflict of interest in this item.
GM/CEO Response to a question to Council in April 2020
QVMAG's current formal reporting requirement is through the Annual Report. Council also receives quarterly activity reports. ...
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COUNCIL AGENDA. P96 Thursday 20 February 2020
17 CREATIVE ARTS AND CULTURAL SERVICES NETWORK ITEMS 17.1 Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery Activity Update
FILE NO: SF5784 GENERAL MANAGER: Tracy Puklowski (Creative Arts and Cultural Services Network)
DECISION STATEMENT: To note the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery Activity update.
RECOMMENDATION:That Council receives the report Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery Update (ECM Document Set ID Number 4235245).
COUNCIL MINUTES. P54 Thursday 20 February 2020
17. CREATIVE ARTS AND CULTURAL SERVICES NETWORK ITEMS
17.1 Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery Activity Update
FILE NO: SF5784
GENERAL MANAGER: Tracy Puklowski (Creative Arts and Cultural Services Network)
DECISION STATEMENT: To note the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery Activity update.
RECOMMENDATION: That Council receives the report Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery Update (ECM Document Set ID Number 4235245).
Ms T Puklowski (General Manager Creative Arts and Cultural Services Network) was in attendance to answer questions of Council in respect of this Agenda Item.
DECISION: 20 February 2020
MOTION Moved Councillor D C Gibson, seconded Councillor R I Soward. That the Motion, as per the Recommendation to Council, be adopted.
CARRIED 11:0 FOR VOTE: Mayor Councillor A M van Zetten, Deputy Mayor Councillor D C Gibson, Councillor J Finlay, Councillor N D Daking, Councillor D H McKenzie, Councillor K P Stojansek, Councillor R I Soward, Councillor P S Spencer, Councillor J G Cox, Councillor A G Harris and Councillor T G Walker
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