Tweed River Art Gallery will unveil architect Bud Brannigan’s architectural designs for the much-anticipated Margaret Olley Art Centre at a cocktail party on Friday, October 26.
Friends of the Tweed River Art Gallery and the Tweed River Art Gallery Foundation will host the event and have been very supportive of the Gallery’s purpose-built extension, expected to open by late 2013.
Award-winning architect Bud Brannigan, who also designed the existing Tweed River Art Gallery (TRAG), will speak about his designs during the unveiling.
He will highlight various aspects of the purpose-built extension to the Gallery, including a re-creation of Margaret Olley’s home studio, a new exhibition space, additional collection storage, a library and new education workshop space. A stand-alone ‘artist in residence studio’ will be situated next to the Gallery building, on the western side of the site.
“The Gallery is also delighted to welcome Ms Christine France, Olley’s close friend and biographer, as a guest speaker at the cocktail party,” gallery Director Susi Muddiman said.
“As Trustee of the Margaret Olley Estate and a confidante for many years, Christine’s biography of Margaret reveals the colourful memories, people and places of the artist’s life and practice.”
Ms France has been working tirelessly at Olley’s house in Paddington, sorting through the accumulated papers and many other items which form the late artist’s estate. She has played a vital role in the development of the Olley Centre, lending many hours to the packing of Margaret’s home studio and sorting important archive material.
The Margaret Olley Art Centre will be constructed as an extension of TRAG, further entrenching the facility as one of the State’s leading regional art galleries.
Tweed Shire Council recently resolved to approve the latest land acquisition, following a donation of more than 1500m2 by former Deputy Prime Minister Doug Anthony and his wife Margot.
“This generous donation from their Murwillumbah property adds to the site they donated in 2001 to situate the Tweed River Art Gallery building,” Ms Muddiman said.
“The Margaret Olley Art Centre promises to be a major cultural and tourism asset for the region.”
Ticket numbers for the cocktail party have been extended because the original target for ticket sales was reached in only a few days. Gallery staff were urged to allocate more tickets, which continue to sell quickly.
“Guests are coming from Brisbane in the north and as far as Sydney to support the project and be among the first to see the plans for the Gallery’s new wing,” she said.
Everyone is welcome to attend the cocktail party. RSVPs are essential for catering purposes. Tickets are available at $50 per person.
Please contact the gallery on (02) 6670 2790 for further information.
WHAT: Special event
Cocktail party in support of the Margaret Olley Art Centre
