Supporters of the Manly Art Gallery & Museum are hoping that the aging building on West Esplanade may be expanded with a new design to enhance its outstanding position on Manly’s harbour front.
“The state government and Northern Beaches Council are both involved in restoring this historic part of Manly, including the demolition of the aquarium and landscaping works,” said Manly Art Gallery & Museum Society President Anne Maria Nicholson. “The art gallery missed out on these initial plans, but we believe as it’s an important part of the cultural fabric of the community it’s time to include the gallery for a major makeover.”
“Arts and cultural facilities can be the poor relations on the Northern Beaches but there is a real hunger in the community to redress this,” Anne Maria said.
The Society hosted a roaring twenties cocktail party on Friday as the centrepiece of a major celebration of the centenary of the gallery’s collection. The sell-out function, attended by many local dignitaries including Federal MP for Warringah, Zali Steggall, State MP for Manly, James Griffin and Northern Beaches Mayor, Sue Heins, was to raise funds for the gallery and garner support for the future.
“As we enter the second century of the art collection of one of NSW’s oldest regional galleries, we think it’s time to consider putting more resources into the gallery. It’s a cultural jewel in the crown of the Northern Beaches and has a national reputation for excellence.
“But its size severely hampers the kind of exhibitions it can mount and the museum is primarily kept in storage. Many long-time residents miss seeing the exceptional collection of beach culture items because there is no space,” Anne Maria said.
“As we enter the second century of the art collection of one of NSW’s oldest regional galleries, we think it’s time to consider putting more resources into the gallery.”
At the Centennial Celebration, the Society’s committee re-enacted a gift-giving ceremony performed by residents one hundred years ago. In 1924, a group of residents bought a prize-winning painting of Middle Harbour by the artist James Jackson. They presented this to the the Mayor of Manly and because there was no gallery, the work hung in the town hall of the then Manly Council for four years until the gallery was opened in 1930. It was the first artwork of the collection which now numbers more than five thousand works.
To commemorate the centenary the Society commissioned acclaimed artist Nick Hollo to create a new artwork. He painted “Manly Cove” which shows the heritage harbourfront buildings and the gallery in full view for the first time in decades with the aquarium removed.
Anne Maria presented the work to the Mayor and Society patron, Sue Heins, and the Director of the gallery, Josephine Bennett. The original is now in the collection and the Society has also produced one hundred Limited Edition prints of the work for sale to the public.
The Society regrouped a year ago when the previous committee voted to wind up the association. Anne Maria, a former councillor on Manly Council, was elected president and gathered a new group motivated to see the gallery prosper in the future. They include former MP Dr Peter Macdonald, company directors Susan Ferrier, Jessica Williamson and Selena Griffiths, Secretary Liz Challenor, artist Peta Minicci, cultural officer Joanna Dinning, financial director Meredith Wheelhouse, and two lifetime members Anne McEncroe and Gail Dendle.
“Our job is just beginning. We are passionate about the gallery and will lobby for support to expand it make it a place of pride for the Northern Beaches community,” Anne Maria said.
Thank you to Anne Maria Nicholson for providing the above information in its entirety.
