The legacy of one of Australia’s best known still life artists, Margaret Olley AO, lives on, with the announcement this week of Federal Government funding of a million dollars towards the Margaret Olley Centre at the Tweed River Art Gallery, on the New South Wales north coast.
“In 2007, I secured $1 million Better Regions Funding for the Tweed Shire Council,” Federal member for Richmond Justine Elliott said.
“The money was for the construction of a new Tweed Museum project. Recently I was advised that it had become evident to the Council that they could not fulfil the requirements to utilise the funding and that the money could be lost.
“I am delighted to announce that, after putting up a strong case for the reallocation of these funds; it will take the form of a one-off gift of $1million for the Tweed River Gallery for the Margaret Olley Centre.”
According to Federal Arts Minister Simon Crean, the grant will match the money already offered to the Council by Margaret Olley’s Art Trust to construct a purpose built Margaret Olley Centre to recreate Margaret Olley’s studio and elements of her home and collection,
“This Australian Government grant for the Margaret Olley Centre is even more poignant given Ms Olley spent time in the Tweed as a child and opened a new wing of the Gallery in 2006.
“With the re-creation of her studio, elements of her home in Paddington and part of her invaluable collection in a new wing in the Gallery, we get a precious insight into the life of one of this country’s most acclaimed and beloved artists.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the Tweed region. The Margaret Olley Centre will hold works of significant national value and elevate the Tweed River Art Gallery from an already leading regional gallery to one of the most recognised regional art galleries in the nation,” Mr Crean said.
Tweed Shire Council and the Tweed River Art Gallery Foundation welcomed the Federal Government announcement. Tweed mayor, Councillor Barry Longland, said the Federal Government contribution was a valuable and greatly appreciated step towards realising a vision to establish the Margaret Olley Art Centre in the Tweed.
“I particularly acknowledge the work of our Federal Member for Richmond, Justine Elliot, who pushed hard to get these funds dedicated to the project,” Cr Longland said.
It follows an announcement this month by the Margaret Olley Art Trust that the late Australian artist had bequeathed $1 million to establish a re-creation of her studio and elements of her home and wanted it built in the Tweed, where she spent time as a child.
Council formally accepted the Margaret Olley Trust’s offer last week, to establish the centre as an extension of the Murwillumbah gallery.
The Federal funding was originally allocated for the construction of a new Tweed regional museum at Tweed Heads, through the Better Regions program.
However, planning issues have delayed the completion of development approval for the Flagstaff Hill complex and it was evident that project would not be finalised before the funding deadline.
The President of the gallery foundation, Warren Polglase, said, “We’re thrilled the Federal Government has seen fit to redirect these funds to the Margaret Olley Art Centre.
“The gallery and the broader Tweed will be thrilled to be home to a monument to one of our nation’s best known and loved artists, the announcement takes the project a major step towards fruition.”
Cr Longland emphasised the reallocation of funds would not have a significant impact on the upgrading of museum facilities in the Tweed.
