Rockhampton becomes Queensland’s home for photography

Published on 17 December 2019

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Rockhampton Art Gallery has become home to the collection of the Queensland Centre for Photography, thanks to a gift of 108 photographs, spanning ten years of contemporary photography in Queensland.

Regarded as one of the leading photography institutions in Australia, The Queensland Centre for Photography operated in Brisbane for ten years from 2004.

In its lifetime the centre’s program included exhibitions, publications, international projects and the Queensland Festival of Photography. More than 700 artists displayed works at the venue over ten years.

However, with the withdrawal of core funding, the Centre’s board decided to close its doors in 2014 and donate the collection.

The decision was made to donate the works to Rockhampton Art Gallery upon the confirmation of the Rockhampton Museum of Art. The new cultural institution is putting a spotlight on the role of Central Queensland as a leader in regional arts.

Chair of Rockhampton Regional Council’s Community Services Committee Cr Rose Swadling said that the donation of the works was a marvellous gift to the people of the Region.

“As it stands, Rockhampton Art Gallery is home to a modest collection of photo-media art, so this gift will substantially boost our collection. I urge people to come and view this new collection,” she said.

The donation is a snapshot of ten years of Queensland contemporary photography, and includes the works of Peter Annand, Svetlana Bailey, Di Ball, Kate Bernauer, Camilla Birkland, Jeremy Blincoe, Magdalena Bors, Eric Bridgeman, Renata Buziak, Keith Carey, Ray Cook, Nahan Corum, Gordon Craig, Gerwyn Davies, Kim Demuth, Jagath Dheerasekara, Maria Drew, Yavuz Erkan, Farrell & Parkin, Joachim Froese, Jo Grant, Alan Hill, Stephen Hobson. Annie Hogan, Kelly Hussey-Smith, June Indefjord, and Pete Johnson. 

The 108 photographs donated to Rockhampton Art Gallery showcase the diverse nature of works in the collection.

The collection will be exhibited at Rockhampton Art Gallery in the ‘open collection’ style, giving members of the public a behind-the-scenes view of what gallery staff do on a daily basis as they process the collection, in preparation for relocation to the Rockhampton Museum of Art in 2021.

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Exposed: Queensland Centre for Photography is on exhibition now as part of umbrella title of Inside Out at Rockhampton Art Gallery until 19 April 2020.  Admission is free.

Rockhampton Art Gallery is owned and operated by Rockhampton Regional Council.

Visit www.rockhamptonartgallery.com.au for more details.