Wollongong Art Gallery Reopens

Wollongong Art Gallery will welcome back art lovers and creatives with its doors reopening on Wednesday I July 2020.

The Gallery closed on Tuesday 24 March, at the same time Council closed a number of its public-facing facilities to protect our community members in the face of Coronavirus. The reopened Gallery will be open 10am-5pm, Tuesday to Friday and on weekends from 12 noon-4pm. and will allow a maximum of 50 people at any one time.

“Over the past few weeks we’ve seen changes to the level of access permitted at a number of Council facilities including our libraries, Customer Service Centre and our leisure centres,’’ Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.

“I know for many people the reopening of the Gallery will be an important piece of the ‘return to normality’ puzzle and it’s good news. However, I do encourage caution. If you’re planning to visit, please follow the NSW Public Health guidelines. Keep the correct distance from other people, keep washing your hands and if you’re unwell, stay at home. Otherwise, come and enjoy one of the best regional galleries in Australia.’’

While the Gallery remained active throughout its public shutdown using social media to celebrate art, promote its collection and offering behind-the-scenes video access, the closure also provided an opportunity to carry out some essential repairs to the building’s entrance after it was damaged by a fallen gum tree in April. In addition, the Gallery’s facade was freshly painted and a new lighting control system was installed, which continued the program of works that included the refurbishment of its wooden floors earlier this year.

The current exhibitions at Wollongong Art Gallery are contemporary corks from the collection, the Wand Collection – Indigenous Works donated by Paul and Christine Wand, Art Care, Ex De Medici from the Room of Dorian Gray, Halinka Orszulok Black Bob’s Creek and Pamela Griffith Wollongong Then and Now.

The reopening of the Gallery coincides with a public exhibition of the draft Framing our Future, Wollongong Art Gallery Strategic Plan 2020-2025 which opens on 2 July.

“This is an exciting time for Wollongong Art Gallery. The Gallery has been part of our city’s cultural fabric for more than 40 years and this draft Strategic Plan looks to the future and what is best for this space and our community moving forward,’’ Cr Bradbery said.

“If you had thoughts on how the Gallery can grow into the future now is the time to join the conversation through Council’s website from Thursday.’’