2007-08 Report

DIRECTOR’S OVERVIEW

QUEENSLAND ART GALLERY ANNUAL REPORT 2007–08 13

The Children's Art Centre continued its widely acclaimed

programming, presenting interactive displays and

programs in association with the 'Andy Warhol' and

'Picasso & his collection' exhibitions. The Centre extended

its audience reach during the Picasso exhibition, for the

first time developing an area of its programs specially for

people aged 13–25 years.

The Australian Cinémathèque has established a dedicated

following, with visitors attending a diverse range of

programs this year including a series of exhibitions —

'The Leisure Class' and 'Pierre Bismuth' — presented at

GoMA's Media Gallery.

The first in a new triennial series of contemporary

Australian art exhibitions, ‘Contemporary Australia:

Optimism', will open late this year. The exhibitions will

be part of a new Summer Series at GoMA of large-scale,

exclusive, significant projects, encompassing visual art,

film and performance.

Other exhibitions currently in development include

'Place Makers: Contemporary Queensland Architects',

the 'Premier of Queensland's National New Media Art

Award', major exhibitions of contemporary work from

China and New Zealand, and ‘The 6th Asia Pacific Triennial

of Contemporary Art’, which has received multi-year

funding through the Visual Arts and Crafts Strategy from

the Australian Government and the Queensland

Government.

The achievements of the past year would not have been

possible without the ongoing support and enthusiasm of

the Queensland Government. I thank the Honourable

Anna Bligh,

, Premier of Queensland; the Honourable

Rod Welford,

, the Minister for Education and Training

and Minister for the Arts; and the Honourable Desley

Boyle,

, Minister for Tourism, Regional Development

and Industry. I also thank Arts Queensland. I also wish to

thank the Australian Government, the Department of the

Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, and the

Australia Council for the Arts for their support. I wish to

acknowledge and thank our corporate and media

sponsors, individual donors, and our audiences for

their support.

I also wish to thank our former Chair of the Board of

Trustees, Wayne Goss; our present Chair, Professor John

Hay,

; members past and present of the Board of

Trustees; and the Foundation Council, for their much

valued contributions over the past year. I would also like to

acknowledge and thank Sir Bruce Watson,

, who retired

as President of the Foundation after 22 years, and

welcome Tim Fairfax,

, as our new President. I would

also like to acknowledge the extraordinary generosity of

Tim and Gina Fairfax, who have given the Gallery a major

donation. This will have an enormous and enduring benefit

for our Collection.

Meeting the demands and challenges of the new two-site

institution depends upon the expertise and commitment

of staff. On behalf of the Gallery's management and

Trustees, I thank our staff for their sustained efforts and

enthusiasm. I would also like to acknowledge and thank

our volunteers who have generously given many hours of

their time during the past year.

I look forward to continuing to build relationships between

the Gallery and the community, our audiences and

supporters over the coming years.

Tony Ellwood

Director

School groups gather at the Gallery

of Modern Art entrance, during the

'Andy Warhol' exhibition 2008.