Gallery gets jobs grant

THE Art Gallery of Ballarat is among a selection of small Victorian cultural institutions set to receive State Government funding going towards creating employment.

Part of the Working for Victoria initiative, the plan would see 20 new jobs across 13 regional galleries and museums.

Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford visited the Art Gallery of Ballarat alongside the executive director of the Australian Museums and Galleries Association Victoria Sarah Morris to announce the plan.

“We’re helping creative workers get back to work in regional communities and supporting public galleries and museums to protect their collections for future generations,” Ms Pulford said.

“What those 20 people will be doing is digitisation of collections… here and at other regional galleries, some roles to support safe reopening… and support for small community museums.”

The program includes out six-month positions with the aim of providing regional communities opportunities for employment and experience.

Ballarat Art Gallery director Louise Tegart said she’ll be using the money to hire workers on the current digitisation project.

“We would not be able to undertake this incredibly important digitisation work without funding assistance because it’s resource hungry and painstaking work as every artwork needs to be treated with care,” she said.

“I’m delighted that the State has recognised the urgent need for the public gallery sector in Victoria to advance this incredible work on its valuable collections.”

For more information on the job opportunities, visit amagavic.org.au, or register for Working for Victoria at vic.gov.au/workingforvictoria.