Annual Report ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17 1 Lord Mayor’s message 3 Chairman’s introduction 4 Director’s review 6 Strategic priorities 8 2016–17 Highlights 9 Audience 10 Exhibitions 12 Publications & Awards 17 The Easton Pearson Retail 17 Archive Image: David Kelly Engagement & Learning 19 Collection 23 Acquisitions 24 Exhibition loans 26 Conservation 26 Support 29 Sponsors & Partners 30 Corporate Members 31 Philanthropy 32 Financial Summary 2016–17 35 Board of Directors & Staff 38 LORD MAYOR’S MESSAGE Lord Mayor Graham Quirk Brisbane is a great place to live, work, Museum of Brisbane plays a key role I was also pleased to see the new and relax — it’s a safe, vibrant, green introducing our city’s heritage, emphasis on children’s programming and prosperous city, valued for its architecture and modern culture to at the Museum this year. Introducing friendly and optimistic character and visitors and is well established as a younger generations to their city’s enjoyable lifestyle. As Australia’s New tourism favourite. More importantly heritage and its artists in a fun, World City, Brisbane boasts a dynamic, the Museum provides our own engaging, yet educational way, is to contemporary culture that residents with endless opportunities be celebrated and I look forward to enthusiastically embraces the energy to discover more about their home seeing more children’s programming of its people, unique landscape, and its people. in the future. Indigenous heritage and ties to the Asia-Pacific. Whether your family has lived in My congratulations go to the Board Brisbane for many generations or of Directors, headed by Sallyanne As the city’s museum, Museum of has more recently arrived, Museum Atkinson AO, and to the entire team Brisbane both reflects and influences of Brisbane offers an insight into our at Museum of Brisbane. I also thank that culture, bringing our history, city’s many stories through artworks, the many partners, sponsors and stories, people and places to life artefacts, historical documents, donors who so generously support through its award-winning exhibitions personal anecdotes and images. Museum of Brisbane and contribute and extensive education and public I never leave the Museum without to its ongoing success. programs. having discovered something new about Brisbane. The past 12 months have been Graham Quirk particularly eventful for the Museum: The Museum is also the keeper of Lord Mayor welcoming a new Director; celebrating City Hall’s heritage and I am delighted significant audience growth and taking to see another year of outstanding home numerous awards for the numbers for the Clock Tower, City Hall landmark exhibition 100% Brisbane. and Auditorium and Organ Tours. The Museum’s guides are famous for their Brisbane City Council is the founding ‘insider’ tours of the People’s Place partner of the Museum, supporting its and play a key role in maintaining transition to independence in 2012, the iconic profile of City Hall with and we remain its most significant residents and visitors alike. sponsor. ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17 3 CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION Sallyanne Atkinson AO Chairman Image: Justine Walpole As Chairman of the Board I am proud audience and 2016-17 was a watershed generously supported Sit. Pose. Snap. to present the Museum of Brisbane year for family programming and Special thanks also goes to Hilton Annual Report for 2016-17. A city engagement. The Museum Brisbane, Wine & Dine’m, Folio Books, museum is important because its successfully reached a diversity of new ABC Radio Brisbane, ABS and goa. celebrates the culture and history of audience segments through dedicated the city, where people live and how holiday activities, extended hours and Museum of Brisbane also began a new they live. craft workshops among other events. chapter this year with the departure of long-term Director Peter Denham We have much to celebrate from the The Museum continues to attract and Deputy Director Christopher past 12 months. The Museum achieved strong and committed supporters Salter. I want to thank Peter and its second highest visitation since as evidenced by an increase in Christopher for the roles they played re-opening in 2013, with more than sponsorship and philanthropic in establishing the Museum as a part 290,000 people enjoying the eight support. The generosity of of the city’s cultural fabric. exhibitions and 11, 500 events and Dr Paul Eliadis and his gift of the tours that formed our annual program. Easton Pearson Archive and Tim We are delighted to welcome Renai Fairfax AC’s support for our Artist-in- Grace as the new Director. Renai has As significant was the growth in Residence program, should be already launched an exciting new era first-time visitors who were Brisbane particularly celebrated. Both gifts have for the Museum with our first ticketed residents. The Museum is committed truly transformed the Museum’s exhibition, Mao’s Last Dancer: to telling the stories of our city, its program and collection. A Portrait of Li Cunxin, set to open places and people; and ensuring these on 1 December. stories are shared with both guests to This year the Museum also continued our city and those who call Brisbane to partner with Brisbane Airport The Museum will also present its first home. Corporation for 100% Brisbane, our public art installation in King George inaugural Museum Partner Gadens Square during the upcoming We are dedicated to growing Brisbane supported Robert Andrew’s Commonwealth Games cultural awareness and loyalty with our local exhibition and Hutchinson Builders festival, with Renai and her team 4 Brisbane DNA Image: Bryan Crawford winning the very competitive tender to It is my ongoing pleasure and privilege deliver the ‘One Million Stars to End to be Chairman of this wonderful Violence’ art installation. Museum. I congratulate all the staff and look forward to supporting you Of course, the Museum could not to create another 12 months of deliver its exhibitions and programs world-class exhibitions and programs without the support of Brisbane City for our visitors. Council and I would like to extend my particular thanks to Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and Councillor Matthew Sallyanne Atkinson AO Bourke as Chair of Council’s Lifestyle Chairman and Community Services Committee for their continued support as founding partner and principal supporter. I would also like to thank my fellow Directors: Andrew Harper, Jeff Humphreys, Alison Kubler, Chris Tyquin and Company Secretary David Askern for their support. Museum of Brisbane continues to lead the way in providing unique experiences for our visitors while showcasing the rich history, artwork and stories of our great city. ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17 5 DIRECTOR’S REVIEW Renai Grace, Director Image: Russell Shakespeare The 2016-17 year was an exceptional Cultural Learning Program’. While visitation of more than 290,000 one for Museum of Brisbane. initially aimed at schools, the people. Together with visitors to the program’s success has led to demand website, this represents a total of The Museum received professional from the corporate sector and general 473,752 visitors engaging with the awards for our program and public visitors. We also partnered with the Museum and its programs during recognition for our commitment to the Multicultural Development Association 2016–17. preservation of Brisbane’s cultural to deliver a professional development heritage with Dr Paul Eliadis’ donation program for our team and presented Museum of Brisbane’s commitment to of the Easton Pearson Archive. The our first bi-lingual, touring exhibition supporting local artists is reflected in Archive is the most significant gift in the Ink Remix from Canberra Museum and our program of exhibitions and events, Museum’s history and the largest textile Gallery. We will continue to identify as well as our collection. In May 2017, donation received by an Australian ways to authentically engage with our we launched our first Artist-in- museum. This transformational gift has community and expand access to our Residence program to provide local expanded our collection by 60% and collection. artists with opportunities to create will provide a strategic focus to our new work in the Museum, reflect upon future program, collection The launch of ‘Brisbane DNA’ as part the city of Brisbane and draw management and digital strategy of 100% Brisbane has enhanced our inspiration from our collection and ability to engage in a continuous surrounds. The Artist-in-Residence The success of 100% Brisbane saw dialogue with visitors through program has been generously the Museum win a major Museum’s participatory digital content. supported by Tim Fairfax AC and other Australia award and Queensland donors and will enable the Museum to Museum and Galleries awards. Other exhibitions over the course offer regular residencies over the next These awards are testament to our of the year included: Our mutable two years. commitment to telling the city’s stories histories, a major installation of and meaningful engagement with commissioned works by urban Since my appointment, raising our community. Indigenous artist Robert Andrew; Sit. awareness of Museum of Brisbane has Pose. Snap. an insight into 1850–1950 been a key strategic focus. This has As an active participant in the life of Brisbane portrait photography from seen a dramatic expansion in the our city, we have successfully the collection of Marcel Safier; and number of engagement and learning integrated diversity into our program Scenes of our City, presented in programs. More than 6155 students to ensure all aspects of the Museum partnership with the Asia Pacific from schools and tertiary institutions reflect our society. In 2016-17, the Architecture Forum and Gadens have taken part in 78 education Museum launched an ‘Indigenous Brisbane. All contributed to strong programs linked to the Australian 6 Visitors loved sharing Robert Andrew’s work, Data Stratification on social media.