15-16Art Gallery of Ballarat Annual Report
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Art Gallery of Ballarat Annual Report 15-16 Annual Report 2015-16 Chair’s Report .................................................................................................4 Director’s Report ...........................................................................................6 Association Report .......................................................................................8 Acquisitions .................................................................................................13 Outward Loans..............................................................................................33 Exhibitions ....................................................................................................39 Archibald Prize Public Programs .........................................................................................43 Education Visits and Programs ...........................................................46 Donations, Gifts, and Bequests .........................................................51 Gallery Staff and Volunteers ..............................................................53 Board Members ..........................................................................................54 Cover image: Image right: Budget Summaries ...................................................................................56 Image next page: ISSN 0726-5530 Art Gallery of Ballarat ACN: 145 246 224 ABN: 28 145 246 224 40 Lydiard Street North Ballarat Victoria 3350 T 03 5320 5858 F 03 5320 5791 [email protected] www.artgalleryofballarat.com.au Vision = 2014–18 Strategic Plan ‘Building for the Future’ Utilising our exceptional collection of works of art, and the creative skills, energy and generosity of spirit of our staff and volunteers, we will create a 3 Chair’s Report Art Gallery of Ballarat Board of Directors In 2010 when the current Board structure was created, we were asked to ‘develop and grow the Gallery’. Planning for growth has been an interesting journey, which at times seemed unachievable, but in the words of Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly ‘from little things big things grow’. Each year we make significant inroads into our action plan and this year is no different. This year, it is all about the numbers: our total attendance of 187,301 is a record, the largest visitation the Art Gallery of Ballarat has ever seen thanks to the great success of the 2015 Archibald Prize exhibition along with our diverse exhibition schedule. This year we: • had 56,915 visitors who paid to attend an exhibition, and 130,386 visitors who enjoyed free entry to exhibitions; • ran thirty-six exhibitions (thirty of which were self- curated/initiated exhibitions) resulting in 1,692 exhibition days; • hosted almost 130 public program events, such as workshops, lectures, concerts etc; • had 10,084 children/youth in our Education programs; • added 280 new artworks to the collection as either purchases, bequests, gifts or Cultural Gifts. Highlights include a Hubert von Herkomer portrait, indigenous portraits in print, Eureka-related drawings from the 1860s, a work by Julia Silvester, Danny Moynihan prints and Kevin Lincoln works; • created a series of in-house publications, including the beautiful Kevin Lincoln catalogue, including the limited- edition copies; • made the decision to take control of the café lease and appoint Kittelty’s as the café operators last year, a move which has turned our street frontage into a vibrant café and entrance area. 4 We are halfway through our 2014–18 Strategic Plan ‘Building deal of oversight. The ongoing MOU discussions this year for the Future’ and this year’s milestones continue to highlighted more issues with the current governance deliver on our four key building pillars: to build an inspiring structures of and the relationships between the Gallery exhibition schedule, and to build our footprint, build our Board, Association, Foundation and Guides. At this stage, collection, and build our relationships. all but one of the parties group have agreed on their commitments and actions for the MOU. It is expected the Our website is often the first point of contact for our visitors document should be completed early in 2017. and has been less than ideal for some years. We have long recognized the need for a mobile-friendly website, an action Compliance and governance are standard work of the identified in the 2010 and current Strategic Plans. After Board and continue to be a key focus. This year we achieved resolving logistical challenges and finding the necessary a significant review and simplification of all policies, resources, we launched our new website earlier this year, procedures and documents governing the Acquisition and assisted by the Foundation’s financial support. The website Deaccession of works of art. This now gives the Director a will allow us to add an online shop, ticket sales, and Board, clear process for identifying and deaccessioning works in Association and Foundation portals for member’s access. the coming year. This is another major step in our independence and gives Gallery staff greater flexibility over website content in the The Board also supported other Not For Profit boards, future. running a governance training day for local directors and promoting Australian Institute of Company Directors events, The use of the Eureka Flag as a political logo by the including hosting an AICD Member’s night at the Gallery. Australia First Party generated discussion in the media, The Governance and Nominations Committee are finalizing community, City Council chamber and around our Board Patron Policy, which will see the appointment of the table. Our objection to the AEC move was rejected and the Gallery’s first Arts Patron in 2017. City of Ballarat will seek for the Flag to be given national recognition and protection. The Board takes its role as We believe it is important to have the right people in order Custodians of the Eureka Flag extremely seriously and will to achieve our vision especially as our visitation grows. It is work with the City in developing an appropriate lobbying six years since we last reviewed the staff structure, future strategy. staff requirements and financial implications. Our current staffing levels have not changed greatly since the Gallery Last year, I mentioned my work on the Memorandum of went free entry in 2008, while visitation number have more Understanding (MOU) between the Gallery Director, Board, than tripled. Association, Foundation and Guides. The Gallery has a complicated support structure, with different groups all I would like to thank Peter Afford for his time and work with working together to build on the work of the Board and the City of Ballarat staff, Gordon Morrison and Kelly Smith City. Although at times it is easy to think good governance who together with an independent consultant developed a just happens, these complex relationships require a great long-term plan for staff requirements. The Board endorsed 5 this new staff structure which is to be phased in over I take this opportunity to publicly thank all these retired the next two years. I am very pleased to announce the Board members for their contribution over the past years appointment of Julie McLaren as the Gallery’s new Curator. and wish them well in their future endeavours. Changes planned in the months ahead are designed to give staff greater clarity around their roles and ensure I thank my fellow Board members for their commitment to appropriate banding and remuneration for all staff. the delivery of the Strategic Plan, and the contribution they make not only at a Board level but in so many other ways. I would like to thank the City of Ballarat for their ongoing At times, it was a challenging year and they were there to commitment to the Gallery, for having faith in the Board advise and support me in my role as Chair. and allowing us to grow and develop the Gallery as our community expects it to be. We look forward to developing Having completed my term as Chair, I will be focusing my our relationships with the new CEO of the City, Justine Linley time and energies on the strategic work for the Gallery and Councillors. Redevelopment. Despite our best intentions this year, the Master Plan for the Gallery redevelopment did not progress I would like to thank Gordon Morrison and his team of as expected. City CEO Justine Linley would like the focus to committed and dedicated staff, who go the extra mile in return to the Gallery’s redevelopment as the first step and everything they do to make the Gallery a fabulous place to then look at a broader precinct redevelopment. As Deputy visit. I would especially like to congratulate Gordon on his Chair, I will lead a stakeholder group to ensure we have reappointment as a Federation University Australia Adjunct finalized concepts and project plans. Professor for another three years, a position he has held for almost 10 years. I would also like to thank Kelly Smith: I wish Mark Harris well in his role as Chair and know the nothing is ever a problem to her and she has helped to Board looks forward to another great year of Gallery make this role so much easier. I hope she enjoys her leave achievements under his leadership. and we expect to see her back in a few months. Finally, it was a great year for the Gallery, achieving our I would like to thank all Gallery volunteers and friends, highest visitation numbers ever and the completion of including the Gallery Guides, the Gallery Association number of key strategic actions.