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The Gunnery redevelopment project and Artspace’s relocation to the National Art School

'In November 2020 the NSW Government announced a $5 million investment to transform The Gunnery into a state-of-the-art facility. The redevelopment is now progressing and we would like to update you on Artspace’s news.

Artspace has now temporarily vacated The Gunnery to make way for the redevelopment project with a vision to reopen the entire building to the public in late 2022. Our revitalised facilities will include expanded galleries; additional free artist studios, increasing our support to more than 100 artists over the next 10 years; universal access for our community through upgraded amenities; public access to our 35-year program archive; and a new flexible learning space for education and local outreach programs. 

Our temporary offsite home will be at the National Art School (NAS) campus in Darlinghurst and we look forward to furthering the strong relationship between our two institutions. Artspace will collaborate with NAS faculty to support professional development programs and mentorships for students, and present several flagship exhibitions on campus, including the next NSW Visual Arts Emerging Fellowship. This partnership is an exciting opportunity for NAS and Artspace to share advocacy and programs to support practising and upcoming Australian artists into the future.

COVID-19 has impacted our arts community in many ways, but Artspace remains committed to providing opportunities that support artists and audiences even in the most challenging times.

We hope everyone is staying safe and we look forward to sharing more news about The Gunnery redevelopment and future programming over the coming months.'  

– Alexie Glass-Kantor, Executive Director and Andrew Cameron, Chair

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Dunn & Hillam announced as architects for The Gunnery

We are pleased to announce that Dunn & Hillam Architects have been appointed by Create NSW to design The Gunnery transformation project. Dunn & Hillam have a keen understanding for this key cultural asset and are working collaboratively with Artspace on architectural strategies to enhance the building’s capacity and impact in the future. They bring a deep empathy to the contemporary use of heritage spaces and will meaningfully transform The Gunnery into a leading centre for contemporary art.

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Artspace Program at large

Throughout our relocation period Artspace will continue to support the work of living artists locally, nationally and internationally.

Artspace will present the NSW Visual Arts Emerging Fellowship in partnership with the National Art School at the NAS Gallery. This will be an exciting opportunity to showcase one of our flagship exhibitions that support emerging practices.

In partnership with Museums & Galleries of NSW, we are presenting a program of touring exhibitions including Mel O’Callaghan’s Centre of the Centre and the group exhibition Just Not Australian, travelling to Glasshouse, Port Macquarie, NSW; Maitland Regional Art Gallery, NSW; Anne & Gordon Samstag Museum of Art, Adelaide, SA; Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Katoomba, NSW; and NorthSite Contemporary Art Centre, Cairns, QLD.

Artspace is delighted to have recently received funding from Create NSW to tour 52 ACTIONS, an exhibition stemming from our latest online commissioning platform supporting artists living and working in Australia through the development and presentation of new works. We will share more information about the exhibition in weeks to come.

We are also thrilled to announce that Artspace is co-publishing Taloi Havini’s first monograph, titled Reclamation, with publisher and design studio Formist. The book is due for release in October 2021 and will subsequently be launched at Sydney Contemporary.

Artspace is working towards three major international projects including: Jonathan Jones’s solo presentation co-commissioned with the Palais de Tokyo, Paris with elements of the new work developed in collaboration with Information + Cultural Exchange, Parramatta and the Adorned Collective; a major survey of Australian art at the Seoul Museum of Art in South Korea opening in December 2021; and Artspace is continuing to work with Alexie Glass-Kantor and the Australia Council for the Arts on the Australian Pavilion for the 2022 Venice Biennale presenting artist Marco Fusinato.

Artspace is pleased to welcome Alanna Irwin as our new Development Manager.

Stay tuned for Artspace’s online programs here at artspace.org.au

Images: Adrian Gebers, ARTSPACE LOGOS 1983 – 2015, 2015, graphite on paper, electric light bulb. Installation view, Ideas Platform, Artaspace. Photo: Zan Wimberley; Opening of An Imprecise Science, 2015, Artspace, Sydney. Photo: Zan Wiberley; Brook Andrew, This year III, 2020, collage, 24.5 x 31.2 cm. Instagram post for 52 ACTIONS, June, 2020. Courtesy the artist