Annual Report 2017 Contents
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Annual Report 2017 Contents Section One 03 Who we are 05 Year in Review 06 Chairman and Director’s Message 08 2017 Highlights 10 Curatorial and Digital 30 Audience Engagement 42 Development and Enterprises 52 Finance and Corporate Services Section Two 58 Financial Report Cover: Rose Nolan, Big Words – To keep going, breathing helps (circle work) (detail), 2016–17, Left: Gary Carsley, D.100 Wave installation view, The National Hill – A Tree Struck By Lightning, 2017: New Australian Art, Museum 2014, installation view, The of Contemporary Art Australia, National 2017: New Australian Sydney, synthetic polymer paint, Art, Museum of Contemporary hessian, velcro, steel, supported Art Australia, Sydney, Lambda by the Victorian Government unique state print applied to IKEA through Creative Victoria, image PAX wardrobe, IKEA GILBERT courtesy the artist, Anna Schwartz chair and IKEA FROSTA stool, Gallery and the Museum of image courtesy the artist, Torch Contemporary Art Australia © Gallery and Margaret Thatcher the artist, photograph: Jacquie Projects © the artist, photograph: Manning Jacquie Manning Annual Report 2017 — Who we are Taking a leadership role The MCA exists because contemporary art Our Values matters: it stimulates the imagination, engages in shaping an Australia our aesthetic senses and has the power to Connecting a broad and diverse public that values contemporary transform lives. Contemporary artists address with the work of living artists, the art and artists. The MCA complex ideas, they challenge us to think and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia see the world differently to inform our outlook pursues curatorial excellence and is Australia’s Museum on life and society. Located on one of the innovation in audience engagement. of Contemporary Art, world’s most spectacular sites on the edge of Sydney Harbour, opposite the Sydney Opera The MCA embodies the following key values: dedicated to exhibiting, House, the Museum presents vibrant and collecting and interpreting popular exhibitions and learning programs that — Artists are central to all our activities continually inspire people. With an entire floor — Making challenging and complex the work of today’s artists. dedicated to the MCA Collection and two floors work accessible featuring changing exhibitions showcasing — Fostering creativity and critical thinking Australian and international artists, the Museum — An entrepreneurial outlook offers a major national resource for education — Collaboration is key and interpretative programs. — Sustainable and resilient The National Centre for Creative Learning including a library, digital and multimedia studios, a seminar room and lecture theatre, provides spaces for people of all ages to create and connect with art and artists. Site-specific commissions take art outside the galleries, and the MCA continues to engage with audiences beyond its harbourside home through a program of touring exhibitions and C3West, a collaboration with both arts and non-arts partners in Western Sydney. Barayuwa Munungurr, Manbuynga, 2015, installation view, MCA Collection: Today Tomorrow Yesterday, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, 2016, purchased with funds provided by the MCA Foundation, 2016, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Anna Kučera 2/3 Annual Report 2017 Annual Report 2017 — Year in Review 1,061,311 54,349 Total onsite visitors Visitors attending public programs 152,286 114,879 Visitors to touring exhibitions Visitors to Pipilotti Rist: Sip my Ocean 9,204 1,185 Facebook followers Artists in the MCA Collection 87,972 74.2% Participants across Audience Revenue raised from Engagement programs Non-government sources $10,254,448 Raised through Development Khadim Ali, The Arrival of by the Museum of Contemporary Demons (detail), 2017, installation Art Australia, 2016, supported by and Enterprises view, The National 2017: New Veolia Environmental Services, Australian Art, Museum of image courtesy the artist and Contemporary Art Australia, 2017, the Museum of Contemporary ink, gold leaf, synthetic polymer Art Australia © the artist, paint, gouache, commissioned photograph: Tim ra-Din 4/5 Annual Report 2017 Annual Report 2017 Chairman’s Foreword Director’s Welcome The MCA continues to emphasise the importance of working together to 2017 proved to be another busy year for the MCA with the Museum create a more inclusive and vibrant Australia – especially important in our again achieving all the ambitious goals we set for ourselves. current global environment where division and polarisation dominate the media. The MCA produces and champions exhibitions, events and activities Eight new exhibitions opened in 2017, six featuring Australian artists where artists can contribute to and lead debates that shape our world. including two major solo shows by woman artists and two showcasing the work of major internationals artists. MCA exhibitions (and artists, curators Collaboration and relationship development with artists, audiences, and artist educators) travelled to 14 venues in four states across Australia supporters, industry and colleagues were key strategies underpinning the and New Zealand. For the first time an artwork commissioned for the success of the MCA throughout 2017. Museum’s Bella Room for visitors with access requirements went on tour. On-site visitation continued to exceed one million people, driven by an A number of new acquisitions augmented the MCA Collection, some with engaging program of exhibitions and events showcasing the work of funds provided by the generous benefactors of the MCA Foundation and local and international artists. These programs involved partnerships others gifted through the Australian Cultural Gifts Program by artists and and relationships across organisations and industries, communities, the donors. We were particularly delighted to acquire the preparatory painting country and continents. The inaugural presentation of The National 2017: for Khadim Ali’s extraordinary wall piece The Arrival of Demons 2016, New Australian Art, a collaboration between the MCA, Art Gallery of NSW a work that has generated a huge response from visitors. and Carriageworks, was the culmination of a number of years’ dedicated work across the three organisations, at all levels. Off-site collaborations Staff undertook a major project aimed at deepening engagement with touring and presenting partners took MCA exhibitions, programs, with our audiences: a brand new website. This is intended to be more curators, staff and artists around the country and to New Zealand to dynamic, interactive and flexible. Behind-the-scenes work also continued reach new audiences. on developing and implementing the MCA’s customised finance, administration and relationship management system, an important tool for An important focus for 2017 was creating more opportunities for staff to the future sustainability of the organisation. develop cultural competency by engaging with the indigenous community around Sydney. This was accomplished through an extended program Nearly 88,000 people took part in MCA programs throughout 2017. of guest speakers, tours and events that covered diverse subjects. This Conversation Starters, a new program encouraging conversation about highly successful trial program, attended by the majority of MCA staff, will difficult topics, proved popular and thought-provoking. In September continue in 2018 as an important part of the implementation of the MCA’s visitors both at the MCA and online described their MCA through the groundbreaking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy. #whatsyourMCA campaign, with some responses emblazoned on t-shirts and even across the building’s Circular Quay windows. The MCA raised nearly 75% of revenue from non-government sources in 2017. Support from corporate partners, the MCA Foundation, MCA The MCA’s annual fundraising Bella Dinner again surpassed expectations Ambassadors and the new MCA Young Ambassador Plus program in with generous benefactors ensuring the success of the Museum’s learning The MCA produces and champions addition to essential core State and Federal government support helped 2017 proved to be another busy and access programs. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the Museum realise its ambitious goals during the year and develop new our private patrons and foundations, government partners/supporters and exhibitions, events and activities projects. I would also like to acknowledge the significant and forward- year for the MCA with the Museum corporate partners who truly value the ideals and goals of the MCA and where artists can contribute thinking support of those benefactors who have included a pledge to again achieving all the ambitious support us in exhibiting, collecting and interpreting the work of today’s to and lead debates that shape the MCA in their will, helping to ensure the Museum’s important work goals we set for ourselves. artists for future generations. continues to benefit future generations. our world. Elizabeth Ann Macgregor OBE For their work and commitment, I want to thank my fellow board members, the Museum’s Director, Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, the leadership team, staff members and volunteers. Their dedication and creative endeavours ensures that the MCA continues to thrive and provide opportunities for our audiences to connect with living artists. Simon Mordant AM Simon Mordant AM, featured Dani Marti, Portrait of John Sneddon (alias John Connery) with his pet dog Rocco (take 1) (detail), 2011, photograph: Angus Mordant Elizabeth