Gold Coast City Art Gallery facts for kids
The Gold Coast City Art Gallery was a special art museum located in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. It opened in 1986 and was part of HOTA, Home of the Arts. The gallery was supported by the Gold Coast City Council. After 33 years, the Gold Coast City Art Gallery closed in 2018. This was to get ready for the opening of the new HOTA Gallery in early 2021. The new gallery cost $60.5 million to build.
Contents
The City Art Collection
The gallery was home to the famous City Collection. This collection has many contemporary and historical artworks. These artworks show the unique character of the Gold Coast. They also show how modern Australian Art has grown over time. In 2021, the City Collection moved to its new home inside the new HOTA Gallery.
Exciting Art Prizes
The Gold Coast City Art Gallery also hosted some of Australia's longest-running art competitions.
The Gold Coast Art Prize
One of these was the Drs Stan and Maureen Duke Gold Coast Art Prize. This is a special art award where the winning artwork is bought for the collection. It showcases modern Australian art. This prize started way back in 1968. Its main goal was to bring the newest art styles to the Gold Coast. At that time, the Gold Coast was a smaller community focused on tourism.
From 1990 to 2006, the prize was called the Conrad Jupiters Art Prize. Many important artworks were bought during this time. These included the first public gallery purchases of works by artists like Adam Cullen and Guan Wei. The prize is now supported by the Stan and Maureen Duke Foundation. This support has greatly increased the prize money. The art collection has also grown thanks to generous gifts from art lovers like Barbara and Patrick Corrigan, and Elizabeth and Colin Laverty.
Photography Award
The gallery was also home to the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award. This award celebrates the amazing generosity of Win Schubert AO (1937-2017). She was a lifelong supporter of Australian photography, art, and creativity. This award is now the biggest photography prize in Queensland. It is also the second largest in all of Australia. It helps show what's new and exciting in photography across the country.
Exhibitions and Events
When it was open, the Gold Coast City Art Gallery offered many different exhibitions and events. These included art shows from local artists, as well as national and international ones. Some exhibitions were created by the gallery itself. Others were part of touring shows that visited many places.
Outdoor Sculpture Walk
The gallery also had a special riverside Sculpture Walk. This is an outdoor art display where you can walk among many sculptures. These sculptures include permanent and temporary pieces by artists from Australia and around the world. The Sculpture Walk is set against the amazing backdrop of the tall Gold Coast skyline.
