Gallery Story

History

In the early 1990s, Hervey Bay was beginning to spread its wings – interest from developers was high, the population was growing and the need for community services was increasing. The Hervey Bay City Council, headed by then mayor, Fred Kleinschmidt, began investigating the establishment of a cultural venue, comprising a purpose-built library, performance centre and art gallery. The Hervey Bay Arts and Cultural Steering Committee was duly formed in early 1995 to examine the feasibility of such a project, to explore site options and to advise on the requirements for such a venue.

Meanwhile, the Toowoomba-based University of Southern Queensland was investigating options for its new campus in Hervey Bay.  The discovery and subsequent purchase of the 8.9ha Coogal site, on Old Maryborough Road, Pialba, by Hervey Bay City Council provided a multi-layered opportunity.  It offered the perfect space for a cultural venue, with room for the staged development of facilities including a library and the city’s first public, Category A art gallery initially.  The site was large enough for the council to offer a section to the USQ for its Fraser Coast Campus and this partnership, in turn, boosted plans for the city’s much-needed purpose-built library.  USQ agreed to share the cost, resulting in the first joint use community/university library in Australia.  And the central location of the block meant the city could have a true cultural heart, easily accessible for residents and visitors, no matter their mode of transport.

The overall concept plan for the 8.9ha Coogal civic precinct site and university campus was designed by Brisbane firm Phillips Smith Conwell.  Thomsen Adsett Architects, one of largest architectural firms north of Newcastle, won the tender to design the new library and gallery building.  Burns Bridge Australia was chosen as the project manager while Brisbane firm Evans Harch won the tender for the construction of the building with a quote of $2.234 million.  The final cost of the library and gallery complex (including fit out, car parking and landscaping) was $3 million, which included a $650,000 contribution from USQ and $462,000 from the Queensland Government.

The Hervey Bay Regional Gallery was officially opened on 2 May, 1997. The first exhibitions were: Wind and Water, an exhibition of works by 19 Hervey Bay artists; Fifteen, works by 15 artists from the Visual Arts and Theatre Departments of the USQ’s Toowoomba Campus; and Silver and Gold: 18th, 19th and 20th Century Treasures from the Queensland Art Gallery.

Volunteers have played an enormous role in the successful operation of the gallery. The exhibition space opened with a team of more than 40 volunteers. At the gallery’s 10th anniversary in 2007, 37 people were actively volunteering - helping with children’s activities, taking gallery tours, installing and dismantling art exhibitions, fixing equipment, welcoming visitors and answering enquiries. 

Planning of the annual exhibitions program at the gallery is based on a range of criteria including: community interests, media, subject matter, historical significance, importance / relevance to local audiences, quality and cost.  Exhibitions that target specific groups in the community, for example, children, youth, men, the Indigenous community or multicultural groups, are also sought. This formula has resulted in a great depth and diversity of visual arts experiences for Hervey Bay residents and visitors. 

Quality touring exhibitions from venues across the nation have provided the community with access to significant Australian and overseas artworks and art trends they previously could only see in metropolitan centres.  The gallery has also fostered the enrichment of local artists’ skills by providing mentoring, critiquing, professional development and exhibition opportunities.

Programs are developed to encourage visitors to actively engage with the artworks.  These range from children’s art trails and craft activities to the sharing of visitors’ stories, from tours and artists’ talks to hands-on workshops.  Hervey Bay Regional Gallery has also been the venue for the performing arts, from dancing and drumming, to piano recitals and chamber music concerts.  A touring schools program was launched in 2007. 

Rating

Hervey Bay Regional Gallery has a Category A status as an exhibition venue in Queensland, according to guidelines set down by the Regional Galleries Association of Queensland (part of Museum and Gallery Services Queensland).

Category A status can be claimed by exhibition venues that meet the following criteria:
· Employment of one or more experienced full-time professional staff.
· Purpose-built gallery or a conversion of an existing building which provides suitable exhibition space, storage for artworks, staff offices, loading dock, crate storage and public reception area with security point.
· Environmentally controlled building with air conditioning which provides a constant temperature of 21°C +/- 1°C and relative humidity of 55% +/- 5% operating 24 hours a day.
· Secure building installed with infra-red movement sensors or other form of surveillance system to monitor members of the public and the building itself. The alarm system must be connected to the local police station or security service after hours.
· Adjustable lighting system, preferably using incandescent lights. Ultra violet light must be screened from all artworks. Lighting levels for painting and sculpture 100 lux, prints and works on paper 50 lux. Natural light can be used where appropriate given the aforementioned levels throughout the gallery.
· Fire alarms should be linked to the local fire brigade.
· Comprehensive insurance policy.