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A Year in Review | 2006 Annual Report Contents Introduction 3 Chairman’s Message 4 Director’s Message 6 MCA Highlights/Initiatives for 2006 9 Exhibitions 13 Touring Exhibitions 18 Education 19 Supporters 21 Sponsorship 29 Visitor Statistics 31 List of purchases and gifts 32 Outward Loans from the MCA Collections 40 Board of Directors 46 Financial Statements 47 Cover image: Sophie Coombs Metaphysical Drawing scl101\2005 2005 ink on paper 70 x 100 cm Museum of Contemporary Art purchased 2006 1 MCA 2006 | A Year in Review The Museum of Contemporary Art is Australia’s only contemporary art museum dedicated to collecting and exhibiting contemporary art and engaging in discussion and debate on contemporary visual cultural issues. Situated in central Sydney at West Circular Quay, the entrance to Sydney’s historic Rocks precinct, the MCA seeks to make contemporary art accessible for a broad spectrum of public audiences through a diverse range of exhibitions incorporating new and more traditional media, stimulating and hands-on educational programs and special events. The Museum of Contemporary Art gratefully acknowledges the ongoing funding and support of the New South Wales Government and ‘Key Organisation’ grant funding from the Australian Government through the Australia Installation view Juan Davilla at MCA 2006 photo Jenni Carter Council, its arts funding and advisory body. The MCA was established by The University of Sydney through the J W Power Bequest, with the assistance of the New South Wales Government. 2 3 Chairman’s Message Chair of the MCA Finance Committee of the Board; Peter Ivany, Executive Chairman, Ivany Investment Group, Peter Steigrad, previously Chairman, Young & Rubicam; artist Mikala Dwyer; Lucy Turnbull, Director, Turnbull & Partners; Carol Schwartz, Director, Highpoint Property Group; Catherine Harris, Executive Director, Harris Farm Markets Pty Ltd; Greg Woolley, Chief Executive Officer, LJCB Investment Group and Matthew Cullen, Office of the Chairman, Seven Network Limited. Welcome to our new Board member Professor Larissa Behrendt, who is Professor of Law and Director of Research at the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at the University of Technology. Larissa has also taken on the role of Chair of the MCA Indigenous Advisory Group. 2006 was another impressive year of exhibitions with a total of sixteen On behalf of the Board, my sincerest thanks go to the MCA staff, executive exhibitions on display during the year. and volunteers for their continued dedication and commitment to the Museum. And of course to director Elizabeth Ann Macgregor who continues On a personal basis I am delighted that my fellow Australians are embracing to expand the potential of the MCA through her passionate leadership and the Museum. Contemporary Art has been a lifetime passion for me and one innovative management. that continues to fill my life with new ideas and inspiration. The steadily increasing attendance figures indicate that the Museum has become a major cultural attraction in Australia. With the renovation and development of the new storage facility and level four gallery space, the Museum has been able to once again build on its important collection of work by Australian artists. It is fantastic to see the Museum able to purchase and exhibit works by such artists as Maria David Coe Fernanda Cardoso, Janet Laurence, Daniel Von Sturmer, The Kingpins and Chairman Sophie Coombs. As the MCA collection continues to grow it is helping to Museum of Contemporary Art cultivate a healthy creative society through directly supporting local artists. With such important steps forward I cannot help but be proud of what we are achieving together. In addition to our self funding income streams including the highly successful MCA Venues, and MCA Store, the Museum receives vital funding through Government Grants, donations and sponsorship. I would like to thank the NSW State Government, the NSW Ministry for the Arts and the Premier of NSW, The Honourable Morris Iemma, MP for their ongoing commitment to, and support of, the MCA. I would also like to acknowledge the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, with whom we are working closely to improve all visitor facilities and access to the MCA building. Thanks also to the Federal Government who supports the Museum through the Australia Council ‘Key Organisation’ grant and the Visions of Australia touring grant. On behalf of the Museum I would like to thank my fellow Board members - Andrew Love, Partner, Ferrier Hodgson Chartered Accountants who is 4 5 Director’s Message children with special needs on the International Day of People with Disabilities. This unique, art experience of vibration, light, colour and sound using specially designed interactive technology is presented in a modified vintage caravan on the MCA’s forecourt to be interacted with by education audiences and the general public. The project will begin an extensive regional tour in 2008. The MCA Visitor Service Officers, our dedicated team of gallery attendants, are now cloaked in a smart jacket that was introduced at the opening of the Biennale. The new uniform will ensure that staff will be clearly recognisable within the gallery spaces. The well informed VSOs help to ensure the MCA is a welcoming and inspiring experience for all. The MCA’s design team should be congratulated for their continual high quality 2006 was another momentous year in the MCA’s short history. In November productions. They were short-listed in the 2006 Museums Australia Design we celebrated the MCA’s 15th birthday – an achievement particularly Awards in the Exhibition catalogue category for 3 of its 2005 publications remarkable considering the tenuous financial position the MCA found itself in – Interesting Times, Situation and Primavera 2005. The Interesting Times during the early years. Now that the Museum has secured financial stability catalogue was awarded a gold PICA award (Printing Industries Craftsmanship we can focus on the strengths that an exciting, challenging and innovative Awards), as well as an award for best overall production. contemporary art museum can bring to a society. In addition to publications designed in house the MCA also worked on the fine I am delighted that the Museum’s reputation is steadily building and is hardcover Juan Davila catalogue in collaboration with Miegunyah Press, an becoming known as an important cultural icon in Sydney and Australia. imprint of Melbourne University Publications. Attendances have consistently risen each year since free admission was The year concluded with an extraordinary exhibition by Paddy Bedford. We had introduced in 2000. Although the sponsorship arrangement allowing free the absolute privilege of working with Paddy during the exhibition and he was entry has now ceased, the Board of the MCA decided to retain the free honoured by Sir William Deane officially opening the exhibition in December. admission model. Income has been supplemented through increased donations and record venue sales. Utilising one of the best sites in the world, I would like to thank all the artists we have worked with during 2006. It is a the MCA venues department has built a reputation of delivering consistently highlight of my position to be able to work with some amazing artists and I excellent event service. The facilities were improved during the year with new continue to be inspired by the interactions I am privileged to experience. decking, lighting and furniture. The MCA will continue to provide forums for artists to share their work In combination with the increasing numbers of visitors who are coming to with a wider audience and in turn increase the passion and enthusiasm for the Museum, the MCA’s exhibition and education programs are continuing to contemporary art in our society. reach further audiences through the travelling exhibition and educational I’d also like to thank all the supporters and key stakeholders of the Museum. outreach programs. The continuing support of these people and institutions helps to build the The MCA’s touring program extended to diverse locations including Odense, MCA into the premier Arts institution in Australia. Denmark, Busan, Korea and Wellington, New Zealand. In Australia, MCA exhibitions have travelled to the National Gallery of Victoria, the Albury Regional Art Gallery and the Muswellbrook Regional Art Centre. The MCA strives to be accessible to all audiences and to increase and improve the understanding of contemporary art to a broad audience. As part of the plan to improve the access to the MCA building an accessible ramp was Elizabeth Ann Macgregor installed at the Circular Quay entrance to the Museum in November. The Director ramp was installed in time for the launch of the “Good Vibrations” project for Museum of Contemporary Art 6 7 2006 Highlights • In 2006 visitor attendance to the MCA increased by 4.2% to 416,168 which is new record for the MCA. • generationext, MCA’s youth initiative connecting teenagers with contemporary art and artists supported by the Balnaves Foundation, continued to grow in 2006. Organised by the MCA with a committee of young people, this program gives art-interested youth the opportunity to visit the Museum independently after-hours with four events per year. generationext in 2006 enabled 800 teenagers from across Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and as far as Dubbo in NSW, QLD and Victoria to engage with contemporary art and culture and other teenagers. generationext is unique within Australia in that it is a ‘teen only’ program and it’s free. It enables teenagers to form their own opinions about contemporary art within a space that is totally dedicated to their needs. The program is designed by teenagers for teenagers, not by adults thinking that they know what a teenage audience wants. It is a program totally focused on high school aged youth—our inspiration for a more creative future. • The unquiet landscapes of Rosemary Laing, a major survey show, toured to the Kunsthallen Brandts in Odense, Denmark from 19 May – 3 September 2006.

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