Construction completed on new Rockhampton Museum of Art

Construction is now complete on the new $36 million Rockhampton Museum of Art scheduled to open in early 2022 and which will feature large flexible gallery spaces, multi-purpose education spaces, a restaurant, retail space and a function area on the top floor overlooking the Fitzroy River.

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles today joined Queensland Minster for the Arts Leeanne Enoch to walk through the project, funded with $15 million through the State Government’s Building Our Regions program and Arts Queensland investment.

Deputy Premier Miles noted “this key infrastructure project for Queensland will also feature the latest technology, temperature and climate control.”

Minister Enoch added that “the next stage in the transformation of the new Rockhampton Museum of Art, which is six times the size of the old Rockhampton Art Gallery, will be to relocate the Gallery’s esteemed Australian modern art collection.

“With additional exhibition space and enhanced technical features, the new Museum can present even more of its magnificent collection of contemporary works from artists including John Brack, Arthur Boyd, Russell Drysdale, Sidney Nolan, Jeffrey Smart and Margaret Olley, and host nationally significant travelling exhibitions.

Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said the new Rockhampton Museum of Art will showcase Queensland artists and deliver an expanded program of community engagement events advising “one of the first exhibitions planned for next year is a solo exhibition from local artist Luke Roberts who received Queensland Government funding of $49,800 through the Queensland Arts Showcase Program, delivering on the Museum’s aim to showcase Queensland artists.”

The Queensland Government’s investment in the new Rockhampton Museum of Art aligns with the Government’s 10-year Creative Together roadmap to activate Queensland’s local places, strengthen Queensland communities and tell Queensland stories. 

Rockhampton Region Mayor Tony Williams said it is fantastic to reach this stage of delivering the new Rockhampton Museum of Art adding “over the next few months we’ll move in one of the most significant regional collections of Australian modern art, and prepare to open the doors of this major arts hub to our community early next year.”