The last month or so have seen exciting events and happenings at the Gallery. The new casual weekend staffing arrangements have proven to be extremely effective, with volunteer staff very appreciative of the support that they are receiving from the presence of trained gallery staff on weekends.
These staffing arrangements, made possible by Greater Taree City Council, provide for an additional 15 hours of trained gallery staff hours, the current funding arrangement providing funding until the end of June this year. The draft GTCC budget for 2010/2011 confirms this increase in staffing with the provision of an additional 15 permanent part time hours. If this is confirmed by Council when they next meet to ratify the budget, this 15 hour position will be advertised so that the most qualified person can be secured. According to Sue Mitchell, Gallery Director, it would be possible to continue to job share this position between several people, if this appears to best meet Gallery needs.
The current casual weekend staffing has allowed for the introduction of several public programs, which have proven to be very popular and are well attended. Both the Saturday Childrens Art Classes and the Sunday Life Drawing Studio are gaining recognition and momentum and will continue as long as the provision of weekend manager staffing is available. For further details please contact the Gallery.
Restructuring at GTCC is now complete in terms of the Gallery responsibilities. The overall responsibility lies with Ron Posselt, Executive Leader Service Delivery, and Margie Wallis who now holds the position of Senior Team Leader, Cultural Services. As FOGS President, I have found both Ron Posselt and Margie Wallis to be very supportive of the Gallery and we at FOGS look forward to a long and productive relationship with the restructured GTCC.
GALLERY EXHIBITION AND EVENTS.
The James Guppy Exhibition proved to be extremely popular. attracting critical acclaim from all who viewed it. In ther words of Gallery Director Sue Mitchell, ‘the Opening of the James Guppy, Joy Cooksey and Ali Haigh exhibitions and the concert by the Tracey Campbell Trio which followed was a ripper’. The evening had an attendance of 120, about 80 of whom stayed on for the concert.
Commencing on May 26th the current exhibition, The Bunker Cartoon 20th Anniversary Exhibition, contains 60 of the most outstanding cartoons produced over the last 20 years. The Bunker Cartoon Gallery at Coffs Harbour is the home of the Rotary Club Cartoon Collection. The Rotary Cartoon Awards run each year and are acquisitive, this how the current collection has evolved. The Bunker gallery contains a collection of 15,000 cartoons catalogued into a data base and stored in archival folders for easy retrieval. Have you visited the Bunker recently? In my view a must see when at Coffs Harbour – we never miss an opportunity to visit.
On display with the Cartoon Exhibition are works from two talented local artists, Tom Reid ‘Genesis Revelations’ and Chris Russell. While there is no opening night planned for the Cartoon Exhibition, it will be featured at the official opening of the Manning Valley Winter Arts Festival on June 4th. Both Tom Reid and Chris Russell have been invited as guests of the Gallery for the this event.
Photographed at Opening Night, Gallery Patron Mrs Mary Hunter BEM, with one of Joy Cooksey’s landscapes.
SHOWCASING THE GALLERY – MANNING NET EVENING.
Earlier this month FOGS catered an evening for 77 women (and 1 man, very brave!), the women being members of the Manning.Net which is a womens support group with many business and professional members. The evening at the Gallery included a two course meal and fine wines, all provided by FOGS, ably organised By Dusty Walkom. The evening included an occasional address by figurative artist Jo Ernst. Jo spoke of her own art experiences illustrated by many examples of her own artworks and her session ended with spirited discussion during question time. We all worked hard, but all involved voted the evening a huge success, as Sue Mitchell commented ‘they saw the Gallery at its very best’.
SCULPTURE GARDEN PROJECT.
With the Development Application, Construction Certificate and Engineering completed and the $42,000 State Government Grant approved by Treasury, FOGS is almost ready to request GTCC as Project manager to put the job out for tender. Construction of the 65 square metre covered deck should begin in August and the project must be completed by December 31st this year.
TAREE OPEN ART EXHIBITION.
Entries close Tuesday June 15th for this exhibition. Entry forms are available at the Gallery. For further information please contact Helga Visser on 02 6551 3543. Opening Night and announcement of winners in July 9th, 6.30pm Taree High School Hall.
CONSERVATORIUM MID NORTH COAST.
Michael Scott has been appointed as project manager for the development of the Conservatorium and is keen to establish a Friends of the Conservatorium group. Interested? Contact Michael on michael.scott@cmnc.org.au
