Overview

Artspace is delighted to announce the transformation of The Gunnery building will reopen in 2023. 

Artspace's home since 1993 is being transformed into a landmark multi-platform contemporary art centre with expanded exhibition spaces, increased artist studios and greater connections to Woolloomooloo, the East Sydney precinct and Sydney Harbour Foreshore.

Building on 40 years of growth and dynamism, Artspace will now occupy the entire Gunnery for the first time, with a completely revitalised and accessible building for the production and presentation of contemporary art. Our evolution will directly support artists of all generations to realise ambitious projects and will increase Artspace's capacity to connect with audiences and communities locally, regionally, nationally, internationally and online. 

The Artspace transformation project is being supported by over $9 million from the NSW Government and has been designed by Dunn & Hillam Architects to include the following key features:

• Reorientation of the entrance to Forbes Street Plaza to create an enhanced connection to our vibrant Woolloomooloo neighbourhood and the East Sydney precinct   
• Expanded exhibition galleries on the ground floor and project spaces throughout the building
• Three additional rent-free studios for Artspace’s One Year Studio Program increasing the total number from 7 to 10
• A completely reconfigured first floor, including a new 250m² Multipurpose Space, a publicly accessible space for Artspace's 40-year archive and a new Learning Studio to support increased onsite and online visitation. 
• Universal access across all three floors

Alexie Glass-Kantor, Executive Director at Artspace, says:

'As an organisation that embraces risk, experimentation and collaboration to support generations of Australian and international artists this is a milestone moment for Artspace. We're thrilled to be working with the NSW Government to ensure the vision and capacity of Artspace in The Gunnery. This investment is truly transformative and will bolster the impact of Artspace as a vital organisation committed to supporting current and future practitioners and to engaging diverse audiences in truly remarkable ways'

More information on the NSW Government support of the transformation in 2020 here