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The Tamworth Regional Gallery was designed by Architectus Brisbane Pty Ltd, and is located in Peel Street close to the retail shopping area of Tamworth’s CBD. The gallery is situated on the upper floor of a two-level building complex with internal access between the floors via a lift or stairs. The new City Library occupies the ground floor of the building. Total cost of the project was $7.8 million. The building was completed in early December 2004.
The gallery has two spacious exhibition areas with timber floors, a multi-functional lighting system that was upgraded in 2013 to new LED lamps, and a ceiling height of 4.8 metres; a secure collection storage space with updated storage equipment for the growing gallery collection; a conservation room; a general-purpose workshop; administration offices and staff/Friends meeting room/reference library/kitchen; and a covered loading dock with internal doors opening to the crate storage area. The building has been designed with fully integrated climatic and environmental controls in keeping with the standards of major galleries around Australia, as well as state-of-the-art electronic security and surveillance systems.
Together, these exhibition and storage facilities and service areas provide the framework for the development of a dynamic arts venue that not only meets the demands of major touring exhibitions, but also has the potential to attract broader support and interest regarding loans and donations from collectors, major galleries and museums, arts organisations and artists.
Other public areas include a studio/workshop space with natural and artificial lighting, as well as a kitchen with catering facilities for openings and special events. The inclusion of a studio/workshop space builds on the existing cultural and educational strengths of the gallery with the added potential to respond to emerging opportunities, particularly in the area of developing new media art projects and exploring new synergies.
Furthermore, the inclusion of a third exhibition space at Ray Walsh House, Council’s main building for emerging and regional artists, has expanded the gallery’s capacity to exhibit a more diverse exhibition program and created new opportunities for local and regional artists.
The entrance foyer landing provides an area to display sculptural pieces from the collection. A major work was commissioned for the bulkhead above the stairwell, and is now the focus for the entrance into the gallery.
The gallery foyer and gallery shop combine modern information display areas with a friendly and well-presented retail area. The gallery shop stocks a selected range of Australian individually designed and hand-crafted items and jewellery.
To become part of our creative industries and sell your unique artworks and craft in our gallery shop, contact us.
To find out how to exhibit at the Tamworth Regional Gallery or in Ray Walsh House’s emerging artist gallery space, contact us.