Gallery unveils colour-happy foyer

CELEBRATIONS are underway at The Art Gallery of Ballarat as they welcome visitors to the new and improved space.

The front foyer, main staircase and Oddie Gallery all underwent functional and cosmetic renovations while the building was closed and are now reopened.

Gallery Director Louise Tegart said the COVID-19 outbreak was a perfect time to take care of some much needed works around the building.

“The last time the gallery had closed was about 20 years ago so we thought there wouldn’t have been another opportunity to do the maintenance,” she said.

“Not all of it is visible like the air conditioning systems but we’ve done quite a bit of fixing up.

“We’re pleased to be reopened and to welcome people back in with a refreshed building.”

The focus of the renovations is the explosion of brightly coloured artworks at the top of the stairs which was installed with the aim of livening up the area.

Showcasing a mix of contemporary and Aboriginal collection pieces, Ms Tegart said the revamped space above the staircase aims make a good first impression for visitors.

“There was another plan for this space but we felt something joyous was what everyone needed right now,” she said.

“We have decided to embrace the theme of colour and display stunning colourful works which will really hit gallery visitors in the face when they come in the doors.”

To compliment the bold range of pieces hung above the stairs, the foyer renovations were made complete with a coat of grey on each of the walls.

Thanks to local manufacturer Haymes Paint, Ms Tegart said the fresh paint job really completed the room’s transformation.

“There’s no way we could’ve painted this foyer before COVID because we had to have a scaffold that went from the floor to the ceiling,” she said.

“The grey’s a great neutral colour for artworks to hang on whether their contemporary or historical.

“We are grateful for their support and look forward to continuing to use Haymes to continue to use colour as an essential part of designing our exhibitions, displays and visitor spaces.”

Haymes Paint’s sales director Matthew Haymes said that the long-standing family business was very happy to be working alongside the gallery.

“We’re thrilled to be involved in preserving and breathing new life into this space,” he said.

“The grey tones are named after iconic Australian businesses, people in our family and work lives so there’s beautiful stories associated with all of them.

“We are proud to be a part of this project and to be able to provide some assistance as a locally owned manufacturer with 85 years of our own proud heritage.”