News

acga gallery @ federation square | opening 7 April 2009 - Wed, Apr 1 2009

MEDIA RELEASE
acga gallery @ federation square

EXHIBITION SPACE + HEAD OFFICE
OPENING 7 APRIL 2009

The Australian Commercial Galleries Association (ACGA) - Australia’s leading national body representing commercial art galleries in the primary market - is delighted to announce the opening of an exhibition space and head office at Federation Square.

National President, Beverly Knight said –

‘This is a very exciting time for the ACGA and its members. In order to promote and support our members and the artists they represent we are opening a new gallery space and head office in one of Melbourne’s most important centres for the arts – Federation Square. We see this as providing a significant benefit for our members and the artists they represent, in addition to other membership benefits and the important advocacy role and representation support we provide. ’

Phoebe Dunn, Chief Executive Officer said –

‘ACGA members are among the most important and exciting galleries in Australia with a commitment to professional and ethical practice in the visual arts. This exciting new venture will afford our members and their artists significant opportunities in a high profile location with local, national and international exposure. In conjunction with the public programs that the ACGA will be running from the new space, we look forward to the ACGA Gallery @ Fed Square becoming an important element of Australia’s visual arts calendar.’

The space, a compact, contemporary wedge-shaped gallery, will also be the new ACGA headquarters. The space is located diagonally opposite the National Gallery of Victoria’s Ian Potter Museum, within the atrium of this architecturally significant Melbourne landmark, and will attract local, national and international visitors.

The gallery will run on a two week rotating exhibition schedule, primarily for ACGA member galleries to exhibit their artists. This is an important new avenue through which ACGA members can showcase the work of the diverse and exciting artists that ACGA galleries represent in a high exposure gallery, promoting the best of contemporary Australian art.

The ACGA will also be offering the space to public galleries, the not for profit visual arts sector and others on application, and intends to establish an emerging artists and curator program, among other things.

The space has been designed by award winning architect, Kerstin Thompson, of Kerstin Thompson Architects.

This news follows other exciting developments within the ACGA, with the recent launch of a new website www.acga.com.au

The gallery will open on 7 April with an inaugural show: NOW 2.0, a group exhibition curated by Dianne Tanzer of dianne tanzer gallery. A media briefing will be held on 15 April 2009 at 11.00. Tony Lloyd, whose work is represented in the exhibition, will present an Artist’s Talk.

The ACGA and its members play a critical role in the visual arts world,
promoting and supporting emerging and established artists and cultivating the Australian art market. ACGA members represent and exhibit Australian artists, driving standards, excellence and innovation in the representation and presentation of contemporary Australian art.

The new ACGA Gallery @ Fed Square will further cement the central tenet of our mission - to develop the livelihood and reputation of Australian artists while enhancing the value and understanding of contemporary art within communities and cultivating the Australian art market and living Australian culture.

The ACGA is grateful for the support and assistance it has received from its members, Kerstin Thompson Architects, the team at Fed Square Pty Ltd, and others in delivering this important project.

The ACGA is committed to ethical representation of living Australian artists.

Beverly Knight Phoebe Dunn
National President Chief Executive Officer
T: (03) 9418 6444 T: (03) 9528 6144


acga gallery @ federation square I atrium, federation square I cnr flinders + swanston sts melb I tues – sun 10 – 5pm thurs til 9pm I www.acga.com.au


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