Hamilton Gallery upgrades will enable exhibitions of international significance

Vital climate control and lighting upgrades will soon commence at Hamilton Gallery, located in the Southern Grampians Victoria, which will enable the hosting of exhibitions of national and international significance.

The Gallery was successful in attaining $549,678 in Victorian Government funding to address fluctuating temperature, humidity, and lux (brightness) last year.

Industry-leading climate control specialists, D&E Air Conditioning were awarded the tender for the new climate control system at South Grampians Shire Council’s February Meeting, and local business Comtek Electrical were awarded the tender for the lighting project.

These upgrades will also safeguard the unique collection for years to come and importantly will be utilised within the New Hamilton Gallery development.

Hamilton Gallery Director, Joshua White said these upgrades will allow the Gallery to meet industry standards.

White explained “without reliable conditions, the Gallery is limited in loaning artworks and touring shows from other institutions, particularly from major galleries such as the National Gallery of Victoria and the National Gallery of Australia.

“We are currently working on major exhibitions of international significance; the first occurring over summer 2023/2024 once works are complete.

“Hosting these exhibitions is an important step in attaining support and funding for the New Hamilton Gallery.”

Gallery staff will commence in March the significant task of relocating thousands of collection items from storage areas within the Gallery to enable works to begin.

The first-floor will be closed at the conclusion of the exhibition “Here and Now” from Monday 27th February 2023 until works are completed. The ground-floor and mezzanine levels will remain open until mid-April, with the current free exhibition ‘Icons: Australian Art’ extended.

Hamilton Gallery has programmed a series of creative workshops in spaces beyond the gallery walls during the interruption to gallery opening hours.