Minutes
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Minutes of the Tweed Regional Gallery Advisory Committee Meeting held Wednesday 27 May 2020
Venue:
Blue Jeans Video Conference Time:
4.00pm Present:
Cr Warren Polglase (Chair), Lisa White (Foundation representative); Bronwyn Lewis (Friends’ representative); Susi Muddiman OAM (Gallery Director), Hobie Porter, Jennifer Unwin, Martin Sullivan, Jennifer Payne (Gallery Administrative Officer - Minutes)
Apologies:
Cr Reece Byrnes, Stewart Brawley (Acting Director, Sustainable Communities &
Environment), Andrew Illingworth (Acting Manager Community & Cultural Services, Tweed Shire Council), Louise Devine, Shirley Kennedy
Minutes of Previous Meeting:
Moved: Bronwyn Lewis Seconded: Hobie Porter
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Tweed Regional Gallery Advisory Committee meeting held on Wednesday 19 February 2020 be accepted as a true and accurate record of the proceedings of that meeting.
Business Arising:
The scheduled update from Robyn Grigg and presentation by Judy Kean on the Heritage Walk project App has been carried over to the next AGAC meeting on 20 August 2020.
Susi Muddiman OAM (Gallery Director) confirmed that the potholes in the TRGMOAC have been repaired.
Cr Warren Polglase (Chair) reported on the outcome of the previous meetings recommendation to Council that a $150, 000 Acquisition Fund be allocated to the Gallery. The recommendation was rejected due to the inappropriate timing given COVID-19. Council subsequently called for a Workshop addressing the Gallery KPIs, operational budget and visitor attendance figures. Cr Polglase noted that Gallery Director Susi Muddiman OAM delivered a presentation to the Workshop which was well received by the Councillors.
Jennifer Unwin commented that it is a shame the Council does not realise the value of the Gallery and what it can achieve for the Tweed Shire.
Minutes
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Martin Sullivan commented that he has heard the comment, “There is currently no funding available in the budget” for the last 60 years from Council.
Agenda Items:
The Gallery Director presented her report with the special announcement that the Gallery will be reopening on Wednesday 3rd June.
She spoke to the popularity of the Australian War Memorial’s touring exhibition For Country, for Nation, as well as the outstanding success of the Border Art Prize 2020 online exhibition presented during the Gallery’s closure due to COVID-19. The
Gallery’s online engagement strategy was also discussed, which is receiving positive feedback from online participants.
The Acquisition Report was discussed with the Committee including 8 monotypes by Margaret Olley which were created during Olley’s first journey abroad. The works were acquired with funds donated by the Friends of Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre Inc., and the Tweed Regional Gallery Foundation Ltd. Also acquired were works by Pam Tippett, Victoria Reichelt and local artist Haley
Calderon.
Moved: Jennifer Unwin Seconded: Bronwyn Lewis
RESOLVED: that the Gallery Director’s Report be accepted and acquisitions to the Collection ratified.
General Business:
Jennifer Unwin commented that the Border Art Prize 2020 gained a lot of interest amongst the community, adding that the process from her perspective as an artist was ‘seamless’. Ms Unwin added that general discussion with other artists indicated that the Prize was well done by the Gallery.
Next Meeting:
The next meeting of the Tweed Regional Gallery Advisory Committee will be held on Wednesday 19 August 2020.
The meeting closed at 5.00pm.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM’S COMMENTS:
Nil.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM’S RECOMMENDATIONS:
Nil.
