The Andrews Labor Government is providing expanded access to art in regional Victoria, with new support to upgrade galleries enabling high quality works and exhibitions to tour across the state.
The $4 million Regional Collections Access Program initiative will support 36 museums, galleries and cultural organisations, funding capital works to enable them to attract touring exhibitions, borrow and display prominent artworks and better care for their collections.
It means more visitors and stronger futures for much-loved institutions with flow-on benefits for local businesses in regional areas.
The funding is a game-changer for regional arts destinations such as Hamilton Gallery which will receive almost $550,000 to upgrade its facilities.
Hamilton Gallery will improve lighting and climate control to allow for better access to its collection and to host touring exhibitions from other museums and galleries - including the National Gallery of Victoria.
Spanning regional Victoria, funding recipients include Gippsland's National Vietnam Veterans Museum and the Swan Hill Art Gallery which will both increase their storage and display capacity, while Warrnambool Art Gallery will enhance exhibition lighting to allow a greater range of works to be shown.
Mornington Peninsula Gallery will use its funding to transform an under-utilised space into a new collection store and research lab, providing visitors with a behind-the-scenes look at the gallery's operations.
The Regional Collections Access Program is administered through Regional Arts Victoria, in partnership with Creative Victoria, Australian Museums and Galleries Association Victoria, Public Galleries Association of Victoria and the National Gallery of Victoria. To see a full list of recipients, visit creative.vic.gov.au/rcap.
As stated by Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson
"Victoria's regional galleries and museums are among the best in the country, attracting tourists and jobs to vibrant cities and towns while preserving and showcasing precious cultural artefacts."
"This funding will help attract more touring exhibitions to regional Victoria and introduce more people to our incredible regional collections."
As stated by Public Galleries Association of Victoria Executive Officer Anne Robertson
"This funding will enable galleries to upgrade infrastructure, attract major touring exhibitions and borrow key works from national and international institutions."
"The program will ensure more Victorians can access world-class visual art in more galleries across the state."
As stated by NGV Director Tony Ellwood
"The Regional Collections Access Program will help care for regional cultural collections while also supporting ongoing access into Victoria's unique regional museum network from major lending institutions like the NGV."
