Page 80-81 - Annual Review 2009

Relationships
80
Relationships
81 Queensland Art Gallery
Foundation
2009 marked the 30th anniversary of the
establishment of the Queensland Art Gallery
Foundation. During the past three decades,
the Foundation’s fundraising has been vital
to the growth of the Gallery’s Collection,
enabling the acquisition of more than 4000 art
works — about a third of the Gallery’s entire
holdings. The Foundation also raises funds to
support the presentation of exhibitions and
programs. During the 2008–09 financial year,
the Foundation raised more than $8.6 million,
including donations and bequests, sponsorships
from corporations, grant agencies and
government bodies, and gifted art works.
Exceptional support was received from
Foundation President Tim Fairfax, AM, and Gina
Fairfax, and from Philip Bacon, AM. The Premier
of Queensland Anna Bligh, MP, announced in
March 2009 that Gallery 1.1 at GoMA would be
named The Fairfax Gallery. Later in the year, the
Premier also announced that Galleries 7, 8 and
9 at QAG would be named the Philip Bacon
Galleries. Significant contributions through
the Foundation were also made this year by
Professor John Hay, AC, and Barbara Hay; James
C Sourris; Valmai Pidgeon, AM; Win Schubert;
Henry Bartlett, CMG, OBE; the Tim Fairfax Family
Foundation; Professor Lawrence Hirst; Dr Geoffrey
Hirst; the late David Baker; Dr Jann Marshall; Scott
Redford; Dr Robert Piaggio; Patrick Corrigan, AM,
and Barbara Corrigan; Lawrence Daws; Dr Morris
Low; Greg Woolley; Margaret Mittelheuser, AM;
Cathryn Mittelheuser, AM; Thomas Bradley; and
Marion and Tom Sharman.
Gallery Members
The Gallery Members program continued to offer
a lively program of social and cultural events
during the year. Members were among the first
to see major exhibitions including ‘American
Impressionism and Realism: A Landmark
Exhibition from the Met’ and ‘The 6th Asia
Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’, with
special Members-only preview events held prior
to the exhibitions’ public openings. A range of
tours, talks, lectures and lunches were also held
throughout the year to provide in-depth looks at
new exhibitions and Collection acquisitions.
New initiatives included the Members Book Club,
with a range of books chosen for discussion
that complemented current exhibitions and
themes. Another popular addition was the
Members Choice film screenings in the Gallery’s
Australian Cinémathèque, with the first being the
acclaimed 1984 drama Paris, Texas, directed by
Wim Wenders. Young Members enjoyed Art in
the Afternoon events, such as a tour and design
workshop around the ‘Easton Pearson’ exhibition,
as well as screening programs such as Roald
Dahl Kids’ Classics in the Gallery’s Australian
Cinémathèque.
Two appeals supported acquisitions of
Collection works — the ‘Contemporary
Australia: Optimism’ appeal and the
Foundation’s 30th Anniversary appeal. The
Anniversary appeal supported the acquisition
of the sterling silver Presentation vase 1864 by
London silversmiths Hunt and Roskell.
77 new members joined the Foundation during
the 2008–09 year. Members enjoyed not only
the pleasure of giving back to the Gallery
and the broader community, but also many
opportunities for special exhibition viewings
and events linked to exhibitions.
Top: Guests celebrate the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation’s 30th
anniversary in the Gallery’s Watermall.
Right: Longstanding supporter Philip Bacon, AM, is acknowledged at the
opening of ‘American Impressionism and Realism: A Landmark Exhibition
from the Met’.
Top: Foundation President Tim Fairfax, AM, and Gina Fairfax with their family
Joseph and Sarah O’Brien, Prue Fairfax, Lucy Coulson and Fiona Fairfax at
the Foundation viewing of ‘The China Project’, March 2009
Below: Gallery members discussing the latest book club selections with
Gallery Members Coordinator Tamsin Cull (second from left)