Federal Member for Capricornia and Assistant Minister for Regional Tourism Michelle Landry has today joined local, state, and federal representatives to officially open the new $36.47 million Rockhampton Museum of Art.
Ms Landry said she was proud the Australian Government was able to contribute $10 million in funding from Round 3 of the Building Better Regions Fund to the Rockhampton Museum of Art which supported local businesses who provided goods and services throughout the construction.
“The project constructed a three-storey Art Gallery within the new Cultural Precinct in Rockhampton’s CBD, allowing the Art Gallery to better showcase and preserve its nationally significant collection, including artworks by Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd, Russell Drysdale, John Coburn and Charles Blackman,” Ms Landry said.
“The Rockhampton Museum of Art consists of a lower gallery exhibition space, upper-level gallery, three education and access spaces, a retail shop, a restaurant/café and landscaping.
“The funding provided the relocation of the Rockhampton Art Gallery from an outdated facility to a new location which will form part of the Cultural Precinct, connecting heritage elements such as Customs House with contemporary art and culture.
“The project supported 165 jobs during construction and will create another 200 jobs over the next 10 years.”
The Rockhampton Museum of Art has also been successful for an additional 3 grants from the Australia Government.
This includes $29,924 in 2020, $29,580 in 2021 both from the Regional Arts Fund and $2,687 from the Culture, Heritage and Arts Regional Tourism program.
Ms Landry said the new Rockhampton Museum of Art will be an important tourism attraction for the region.
“Museums act as cultural go-to places within a city and in turn, attract art lovers and tourists to both the art galleries and the city as a tourist destination.
“Attracting tourists to these art galleries can in turn boost the local economy.
For instance, art lovers also eat at local restaurants, attend live shows, and stay in hotels.
“As a direct result, this behaviour boosts the local economy and in turn, creates more local jobs,” Ms Landry said.
