University of Queensland Art Museum facts for kids
University of Queensland Art Museum in 2020
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| Former name | Darnell Collection, Mayne Hall |
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| Established | 1976, refurbished April 2004 |
| Location | University of Queensland St Lucia Campus James and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre (Building 11) |
| Type | Art museum |
| Collections | Australian artists from the colonial period to the present |
| Collection size | 3,000 artworks |
| Owner | University of Queensland |
| Public transit access | UQ St Lucia ferry wharf Park Road railway station |
The University of Queensland Art Museum is a special place where you can see amazing art! It is located at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. This museum is home to the second largest collection of public art in Queensland. It used to be called Mayne Hall.
Contents
The Art Museum's Journey
The art collection started way back in the 1940s. It was first called the Darnell Collection. This happened because a kind person named John Darnell left money to the university. The money was first meant for a special library. But the university decided to use some of it for a fine art library instead.
At that time, the university did not have an art museum. So, the artworks were displayed in the main geology lab. This was at the university's first location in George Street. The very first art show was held there in 1945.
A New Home for Art
About 30 years later, in 1976, the University Art Museum opened. Its new home was in the Forgan Smith Tower. This tower is on the St Lucia campus. The first director of the museum was Nancy Underhill. She was also the head of the Fine Arts Department.
Nancy Underhill wanted to collect art from important modern artists. She especially liked artists from Queensland. She also wanted her students to use the museum. It was like a "laboratory" for them. They learned how to set up and manage art shows.
Growing the Collection
In 1996, Ross Searle took over as director. He helped the museum move to its current location in 2004. This new spot is the James and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre. Ross Searle also started a special collection of artists' self-portraits. He also began a prize for self-portraiture that happens every two years.
By 2007, the museum had more than 2,500 artworks! Today, the collection has over 3,000 pieces. This makes it the second largest public art collection in Queensland. The museum continues to add works by important Australian artists. They also encourage people to donate art.
The museum also hosts many art shows and public events. They publish books about art and culture. This helps people learn about art from the past and today.
History of the Mayne Hall Building
People at the University of Queensland wanted a large hall. It would be like the big halls at universities in the UK. They started planning for it in the 1940s. The building was named Mayne Hall. It opened in March 1973.
Building and Design
Money for Mayne Hall came from the government. Donations also came from companies like Myer and BP. The UQ Alumni Association also gave money. The building was designed by a Brisbane architect named Robin Gibson.
The hall was named after the Mayne family. They had helped the university get started at St Lucia. Mayne Hall was built for many different events. These included graduation ceremonies and concerts. It also hosted career fairs and special lectures.
Music and More
In the mid-1970s, a special organ was added to the building. It was used to teach music students for 20 years. Many famous performers played at Mayne Hall over the years. Some of them include:
- Bo Diddley (1974 and 1975)
- Split Enz (1976 and 1977)
- Richard Clapton Band (1976)
- Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee
- Margaret RoadKnight
- Stephane Grappelli (1976)
- Alan Stivell (1977)
- Larry Norman (1977)
- Little River Band (1977)
- Cliff Richard (1978)
- Tom Waits (1979)
- Bruce Cockburn (1983)
- Michelle Shocked (1991)
In 1993, Mayne Hall was changed. It became the home of the UQ Art Museum and its exhibition spaces.
See Also
- University of Queensland
- University of Queensland Business Association
- University of Queensland Union (UQU)
