Gallery gets upgrades, welcomes curator

THE Art Gallery of Ballarat’s ability to attract the best exhibitions and loans from around the world will soon be boosted by some significant additions.

A $5.5 million project funded by the City of Ballarat will start soon, while a State Government-funded $536,707 upgrade of the building’s skylights will take place at the same time.

In other developments, the gallery has announced the appointment of Jacqueline Doughty to the new position of assistant director – curatorial, reporting to director Louise Tegart.

A major component of the interior upgrades project is the installation of a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system to replace the existing system – which is at the end of its life – and ensure the gallery meets international standards for exhibiting and storing art.

Interior walls will also receive an upgrade, allowing artworks to be fixed directly to a wall, while both lifts will be refurbished.

The skylights overhaul will involve upgrading the existing skylights with energy-efficient LED panels and will be paid for through the government’s Regional Collections Access Program.

The City has appointed a lead architect to design and co-ordinate the works, with a construction tender process expected to take place late this year.

The gallery will be closed for a period during the first three months of 2025, but offsite events and public programming are planned to compensate.

Ballarat councillor and gallery board member Mark Harris said the works were necessary and would ultimately boost the gallery’s reputation. “The upgraded HVAC system will greatly enhance the gallery’s ability to attract major loans and exhibitions as well as maintain its own collection, with additional upgrades of the project further enhancing the visitor experience at the Art Gallery of Ballarat,” Cr Harris said.

Meanwhile, Ms Doughty will lead the gallery’s curatorial team and brings more than 30 years of experience in the visual arts sector to the role.

Most recently, she was the Ian Potter Museum of Art’s curatorial manager and head curator at the University of Melbourne’s museums and collections department.

Ms Tegart said Ms Doughty would play an integral role in enhancing the strategic planning of exhibition programming and collection management, saying her work would have a significant impact. “The Art Gallery of Ballarat has a remarkable history and one of the most significant collections in the country and ambitious future plans,” said Ms Doughty.

“I look forward to further enhancing the activation of historical and contemporary works while also working with the curatorial team to deliver compelling exhibitions that engage new audiences.”