Woollahra Council’s new Gallery at Redleaf, housed in the much-loved 1897 heritage building overlooking Blackburn Gardens announced to open its doors in early 2021 to support artists and connect community.
- Expressions of interest open now with Sebastian Goldspink appointed as Gallery Coordinator to lead the programming of exhibitions alongside the gallery team across multiple exhibition spaces within the building
- The gallery will be a unique opportunity for artists and curators to exhibit contemporary art in an iconic Sydney harbourside location overlooking the sprawling historic Blackburn Gardens and Murray Rose Pool
- The yearly exhibition calendar will be scheduled through expressions of interest to include exhibitions by artists ranging from emerging, mid-career to established as well as the council’s existing program, travelling exhibitions and partnerships
A new gallery, the Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf has been announced today to open in Sydney in early 2021 and expressions of interest for artists and curators to apply now for next year’s exhibition program.
The Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf will be housed in the former Double Bay Library site – a 122 year old heritage building overlooking Blackburn Gardens, the iconic Sydney Harbour and Murray Rose Pool in Double Bay.
Cr Susan Wynne, Mayor of Woollahra said: ‘Woollahra has a well-established connection to the arts, and we are proud of the success of our cultural program, which includes the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, Australia’s pre-eminent award for small sculpture.
‘Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf will be a wonderful artistic hub where people can connect with art through exhibitions, residencies, workshops and public programs – I’m so excited this fantastic space will soon open its doors for the community to enjoy.’
The vision of the new gallery is to become the cultural heart of Woollahra and to support creative talent to flourish. Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf will provide a unique space for artists, art groups and curators to professionally exhibit a diverse offering of art. The gallery will be a collaborative space for all to connect with, and be enriched by the arts.
To present a high calibre of contemporary art, the soon to be Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf building is currently being transformed into multiple exhibition spaces so it may host up to 4 exhibitions at one time or present larger solo and group exhibitions. The gallery will also include spaces for digital and new media art practice.
The downstairs cultural hub situated below the gallery will become the new home for the established Woollahra Artist in Residence Program. The program provides rent-free, non-residential unfurnished studios for artists to work in. The cultural hub will run selected Council-led cultural and creative programs available for the community to visit or hire for use.
The gallery will be run by Woollahra Council and will focus on a yearly exhibition calendar with diverse shows ranging from emerging to established artists procured and programmed from a yearly expressions of interest call out. The exhibition calendar will be bolstered with the Council’s existing program as well as travelling exhibitions and partnerships.
Sebastian Goldspink who was recently announced as the curator for the Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art and is known for his work with ALASKA Projects has been appointed as Gallery Coordinator to lead the gallery exhibition programming with the team. The programming process will commence with the Expressions of Interest call out for 2021 which is now open for emerging to mid-career to established artists, curators as well as unrepresented artists to apply.
The EOI for 2021 offers a significant opportunity to practicing artists and curators during this challenging time for the arts that has been heavily impacted by Covid-19. Successful applicants from the EOI will be provided with mentoring by the gallery team to support their proposal and ensure optimum outcomes for their exhibition concept.
Sebastian Goldspink, Gallery Coordinator said: ‘It’s an honour to be involved in the opening of this new gallery and to be returning to work in the building that I learnt to read in as a child in its former use as the Double Bay Library. It was a special place for myself, and many people who grew up in the area. I have a definitive connection with the building and the local community it has always supported.
I look forward to working closely with artists, curators and the team to deliver a dynamic and accessible art space that showcases the deep love and history of art in the East. A place that fosters opportunities for artists to generate new creative memories for future generations.’
Built in 1897 the Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf building, known as St Brigid’s has a rich and extraordinary history. Over its lifetime, it has been home to many important local families, the headquarters for the Royal Commission on Espionage and a community-gathering place as the Woollahra Arts Centre when Woollahra Council bought it in the 1950s. It was most recently the treasured Double Bay Library, before its relocation to Kiaora Place.
Woollahra is recognised as the home of many of Australia’s most acclaimed artists, authors and filmmakers, including poet Banjo Patterson, Nobel Prize winning author Patrick White, iconic opera singer Dame Joan Sutherland as well as internationally recognised visual artists Charles Blackman, Russell Drysdale, Fairlie Kingston, Margaret Olley, Lloyd Rees and Martin Sharp.
The building transformation is well underway for the Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf which will support a vibrant new wave of creative talent to exhibit and connect with the community. The iconic Sydney location will allow gallery visitors to come by ferry, boat, as well as other forms of public transport, car or by foot to experience art.
Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf will open its doors to the public in early 2021.
Expressions of Interest for the Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf are now open.
Apply online at https://www.woollahra.nsw.gov.au/artgallery