The new Lismore Regional Gallery is opening it doors and is inviting the community to its grand opening on Saturday, 28 October.
‘Saturday’s grand opening will be such an exciting day,’ said Gallery Director Brett Adlington.
‘There has been an enormous effort from so many individuals to get us to this point. It’s overwhelming really… it feels quite surreal to finally be here.’
The $5.8 million Lismore Regional Gallery and Quadrangle project at the old Lismore High School site off Keen Street is now complete, and the doors are being thrown open to local residents, VIPs and visitors.
Brett Adlington said a gallery for Lismore was first mooted as far back as 1901 and in 1954, Lismore Council opened the previous gallery premises in Molesworth Street as a ‘temporary gallery’.
Following decades of discussion, funding applications and hard work, Brett said it was an incredible feeling to finally roll out the red carpet and open the doors to Lismore’s new permanent gallery.
‘It has certainly been a long time coming,’ he laughed.
‘The Lismore Regional Gallery is now a functional and modern facility that we can be proud of as a regional city. We have four times the space; a climate controlled, flood-free storage area for our permanent collection of more than 1000 pieces; and a friendly and welcoming environment for visitors and locals.’
The new gallery was designed by Bangalow-based architect Dominic Finlay-Jones, who also designed the award-winning Lismore City Hall refurbishment.
Lismore Mayor Isaac Smith said the new Lismore Regional Gallery will see visitation of 55,000 people annually, boosting Lismore’s economy by $1.8 million.
The program for the grand opening:
From 4pm: 100 Wonderplace’s ‘Artkeepers’ project in the Quadrangle
5.30pm: Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony in the Quadrangle
5.45pm: Speeches and official opening
6.30pm: Gallery open to public visitors
6.30pm: Performance by Tralala Blip in the Quadrangle
7.15pm: Performance by Romaine Moreton and Lou Bennett (from Tiddas) with a new work drawing together poetry, moving image, and an original score performed by Moreton including words from Nina Simone’s song, Four Women.
After the grand opening, Lismore Regional Gallery opening hours will be: Tuesday and Wednesday 10am to 4pm, Thursday 10am to 6pm, and Friday/Saturday/Sunday 10am to 4pm.
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