Second Stage of Newcastle Art Gallery Expansion to Begin in May

BY BLAKE QUINN

The second stage of the $43.8 million Newcastle Art Gallery expansion will begin next month. 

City of Newcastle unanimously voted to award the contract for the construction works to Hansen Yunken at it's meeting last night. 

The nationally significant infrastructure project will undergo its second stage transformation in May. 

It's set to elevate the gallery into one of international standing, helping consolidate the Hunter's reputation as an "active and vibrant centre for the arts and culture, providing a significant cultural tourism opportunity for NSW" according to Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes. 

The expansion will provide additional exhibition space to showcase Newcastle's historic art collection valued at $126 million, nationally recognised as one of the finest in Australia. 

As such, it will offer an opportunity to tell local stories whilst also inspiring new ones through displaying works of art which hold local, national, and international importance. 

The project will also deliver new shopping spaces, multi-purpose educational program spaces, as well as an international standard loading dock.

A spokesperson form Hansen Yunken says they plan to employ 130 local workers at the height of the expansion's construction works. 

The initial site establishment will commence in May, with the overall construction process projected to be completed in late 2024. 

Calls for Artists to Beautify Construction Site

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Local artists could have their work temporarily displayed around the Newcastle Art Gallery. 

Council has issued a nation-wide call for four new works to be displayed on the hoarding fencing around the site, as it undergoes construction work for a much-anticipated expansion. 

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the works will give residents an idea of what's to come for the gallery. 

"Given the site's prominent location in the heart of the city, the construction hoarding project offers a unique opportunity for established or emerging artists to reach new audiences, while also improving the external view of the work zone." 

Construction is set to kick off the middle of this year, with local artists encouraged to submit an expression of interest, released by the gallery yesterday.

The Lord Mayor said, "the expansion will provide greater access to our nationally significant collection and a wider range of prominent exhibitions." 

"In the meantime, it's important to give our community as many avenues as possible to stay connected with the Newcastle Art Gallery," she said. 

The chosen works of art will be digitally reproduced for display on the construction site.

Early works well underway for Newcastle Art Gallery expansion

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The City of Newcastle is set to invite tenders in January for the construction of the Newcastle Art Gallery's $40 million expansion.

Four companies have been shortlisted after an expression of interest process.

More than 1,500 cubic metres of grout has been placed so far, as early works and mine remediation continues.

Construction is expected to be begin in mid-2023.

More than half of the project's cost is thanks to State and Federal grants and other sources, but the Art Gallery Foundation is continuing to raise money in the hopes of reducing the financial burden on ratepayers.

Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon and Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, with representatives from the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation, Newcastle Art Gallery Society, Department of Regional NSW and City of Newcastle staff outside Newcastle Art Gallery.

Government promising big things and big investment in the Hunter

BY DAKOTA TAIT

It's a been a big week when it comes to investment in the Hunter this week, with the Federal and State Governments promising millions of dollars for projects in the region.

On Monday, the Commonwealth agreed to increase their spending on the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace to $1.6 billion.

It's hoped the 15 kilometre, two-lane extension will bypass congestion pinch-points at Hexham and Heatherbrae.

The Deputy Prime Minister was in the Hunter on Friday for another pair of announcements.

The Federal and State Governments agreed to meet the final $10 million in funding needed for the Newcastle Art Gallery expansion project. 

They'll split the cost equally between them.

It means the Gallery will close for two years from Monday, as work on the almost $40 million project gets underway.

A Telstra box will need to be moved and mines underneath the Gallery grouted before major expansions to floor space and a new cafe can happen. 

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce told reporters it's a proud moment for Newcastle.

"It allows a lot of those paintings that are sitting back in the dark corners of the dark storage room of Newcastle to brought out so people can see them and enjoy them," Mr Joyce said.

"This is incredible, when you think about it - Rupert Bunny, Dobell, Brett Whitely, John Olsen, at Newcastle Gallery."

"It's a reaffirmation that the city of Newcastle is not an appendage to another place to the south - it's a place that stands on its own two feet, it's a growing place, it's culturally growing."

New South Wales and the Commonwealth also came to a similar arrangement to fund redevelopment works at Maitland Gaol. 

Another $10 million will be split equally between them and invested into an upgraded entry, a new cafe, and boutique accommodation in a pair of residences on the historic site.

Maitland Council are also hoping to open up the guard towers and bring in private investment for a new hotel next door.

Mr Joyce also announced another $8 million from the Federal Government toward street beautification in Scone.

The Deputy Prime Minister announced the spending at Newcastle Art Gallery on Friday morning.

Left to right: Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Taylor Martin, Lyne MP David Gillespie, Liberal Candidate for Paterson Brooke Vitnell, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, Deputy NSW Premier Paul Toole, and Maitland Mayor Philip Penfold.

Newcastle Art Gallery Redevelopment To Start Immediately After Federal & State Funding Commitment

 BY IAN CROUCH

After more than a decade of lobbying and broken promises, work on Newcastle Art Gallery's $39 million redevelopment is due to begin on Monday thanks to a $10 million funding commitment from the state and federal governments.

It means the gallery will close for two years while the work is done.

The new-look building will have an extra 1600 square metres of exhibition space, more storage, a secure loading dock and a cafe.

The project cost has doubled since the Gillard government pledged $7 million in 2011 on the condition the commitment was matched by the state government, which refused to do so, with the federal funds forfeited as a result.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Deputy Premier Paul Toole will announce the joint funding in Newcastle on Friday morning.

$10mil in state and federal funds means the Newcastle Art Gallery redevelopment can go ahead immediately

Newcastle Art Gallery faces two year closure for expansion works

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Newcastle Art Gallery could be closed for more than two years, if the city wins a $10 million grant from the Federal Government to fund its long-awaited expansion.

According to a schedule unveiled on Tuesday night, the gallery would be unable to remain operational, while works to double exhibition space and add a cafe were undergoing.  

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen says the closure would be a short hiccup for the sake of the gallery in the long run. 

"The Art Gallery collection is the city's most valuable asset," Cr Clausen said. 

"It's valued at more than $120 million dollars, yet in its current configuration only a very small percentage of the art that is owned by Novocastrians is able to be shown in the gallery."

If the project is given the go-ahead, the current schedule would see a relocation of telecommunications services and other early works before construction begins next August, running until March 2024.

Another three-month commissioning period is likely then, meaning the gallery would open around halfway through 2024.

The council is expected to put out a call for tender for early works later this year.

Cr Clausen says the community's concern was understandable, but they're working to find a solution.

"We've got extraordinary pieces, Dobells and the like, that are part of the city's collection," Cr Clausen said.

"The artworks themselves will be kept in secure storage, that's climate controlled and appropriately air conditioned and the like, to ensure the protection of the artwork."

"Two and a half years is a long period of time, and what will happen in the interim is that we're working with our amazing Art Gallery director and the Art Gallery staff to look at how we can showcase the city's artworks in other forms, right around Newcastle, so that people will still be able to enjoy the Art Gallery collection, but it will be in a different format until that building's complete."

Image credit: nag.org.au

Newcastle Council Pushes State Budget Wish List

BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle Council is putting it's hand up early for a share of funding from next month's state budget.

Among the big-ticket items on council's wish list is $26 million dollars for the redevelopment of the city's art gallery, an increase in the pensioner rate rebate and money towards feasibility studies into a Wickham Ferry Terminal and a Lower Hunter freight rail corridor between Hexham and Fassifern.

Council also wants the state government to work with it to rezone land for extensions to the light rail line.

A lord mayoral minute will be tabled at next week's council meeting identifying key projects for attention in the state budget after the region missed out in last week's federal budget.

Art Gallery Redevelopment Back In The Frame Picture: artguide.com.au