Redevelopment
In 2011, Shepparton Art Museum undertook a $1.98m capital works redevelopment. To chart this significant upgrade, 11 project bulletins were published (see list at right).
On Friday 17 February 2012, Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) was officially reopened by The Hon. Simon Crean, MP, Federal Minister for the Arts and for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government.
SAM reopened following a major eight month, $1.98 million redevelopment that positions it as one of regional Australia's premier cultural institutions. The Art Museum now features international standard climate control, state of the art LED lighting, six new upstairs galleries and a new public programs Workshop complete with a kiln.
"The redevelopment of SAM makes our extraordinary art collection more accessible to the public than it ever has been before," Greater Shepparton Mayor Michael Polan said. "At the same time, SAM has become a major new tourist attraction and provides many new opportunities for economic development in our region."
SAM reopened with two major new exhibitions. Sir John Longstaff: Portrait of a Lady, is a major new exhibition of work by Shepparton's most famous artist, and features paintings on loan from major public and private collections. The Indigenous Ceramic Art Award showcases the best Indigenous ceramic artists working across Australia, from Echuca to the Torres Strait. In addition, the Art Museum's collection is displayed on the first floor, which includes a special new ceramics gallery.
"The redevelopment means we now have the facilities to borrow art from leading national and international collections," SAM Acting Director Ryan Johnston said. "The new workshop allows us to provide an expansive range of education and public programs alongside these major exhibitions."
On Saturday the 18th of February there was also a free Say hello to SAM community day held at SAM from 10am, featuring tours, workshops and a live drawing performance by the internationally renowned artist Gosia Wlodarczak (Drawing Wall #6). Over 1500 visitors came to say hello to SAM, and both events held over this weekend were a huge success.
Image Gallery
