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QUEENSLAND ART GALLERY ANNUAL REPORT 2007–08
INITIATIVES AND SERVICES
46
GALLERY MEMBERSHIP
Queensland Art Gallery Foundation
The Foundation assists the Gallery by raising vital funds
from individuals and the corporate sector, and through
cultural gifts and bequests, to support the growth of the
Collection and the presentation of exhibition programs.
With the opening of the Gallery of Modern Art and the
expansion of the Queensland Art Gallery to two sites, the
role of the Foundation is to ensure the Gallery's standing
as a world-class art museum. Many generous donations
were received this year through the Foundation, and the
Gallery was particularly honoured by the outstanding
support of the Foundation's new President Tim Fairfax,
AM
,
Gina Fairfax and Philip Bacon,
AM
.
Members of the Foundation participate in a program of
special events designed to provide an enduring
relationship with the Gallery. During the year, members
enjoyed exclusive viewings of the exhibitions 'Howard
Arkley', 'Xstrata Coal Emerging Indigenous Art Award
2007', 'Making it Modern: The Watercolours of Kenneth
Macqueen', 'Andy Warhol', 'Mountains and Streams:
Chinese Paintings from the NGV Asian Collection',
'Sidney Nolan: A New Retrospective' and 'Picasso & his
collection'. The Foundation also launched a successful
Collection appeal in October 2007, hosted a gala dinner
in conjunction with the 'Andy Warhol' exhibition in
December 2007 and held the Annual Foundation Dinner
in May 2008, attended by more than 220 Foundation
members and guests, and by the Foundation's Patron,
Her Excellency the Governor of Queensland, Ms Quentin
Bryce,
AC
.
For full details of Queensland Art Gallery Foundation
operations and activities, please refer to the separate
Annual Report produced by the Foundation.
Friends of the Queensland Art Gallery
The Friends of the Queensland Art Gallery provides
diverse audiences with access to the Gallery's exhibitions
and Collection. It seeks to actively engage with the
community by extending visitors' appreciation and
enjoyment of the visual arts through innovative programs
developed specifically for members.
Members enjoy a range of regular programs including
exhibition viewings, talks by artists and academics,
special cinema screenings, and programs such as Tours
for Kids for children and families. Friends Up Late, a new
member program launched in June 2008 to coincide with
Picasso Up Late, is proving highly popular. For this
program, Gallery staff present exclusive talks to give
members insights into 'Picasso & his collection'.
Significant growth within the Gallery's membership has
resulted from membership drive initiatives during the
2007–08 period. The 2007 'Andy Warhol' membership
drive produced a membership increase of more than
400 per cent, and was followed by a similar initiative
during 'Picasso & his collection' in June 2008. This
dramatic increase in Gallery membership has also led to
a new focus for
Artlines
magazine, with Gallery members
becoming an increasingly important audience for the
magazine's articles and program profiles.
LEFT TO RIGHT
View of the 'Picasso & his collection'
exhibition shop.
Philip Bacon,
AM
, speaking at the
Queensland Art Gallery Foundation
Annual Dinner, 10 May 2008.
Tony Wheeler, Co-founder, Lonely
Planet Guide, at the Perspectives:
Asia lecture 'Travellers' Tales:
Australian Tourism in Asia and the
Impact on the Australian Psyche',
1 August 2007.
OPPOSITE
Stephen Bush
Australia b.1958
I am a mountain I can see clearly
2008
Oil and enamel on linen
200 x 310cm
Purchased 2008. The Queensland
Government's Gallery of Modern Art
Acquisitions Fund
© Stephen Bush 2008. Licensed by
Viscopy, Sydney, 2008