Orange Regional Gallery looks to fundraising for its planned extension

Orange Regional Gallery is looking for community contributions to ensure the extension of the gallery - valued at $4.5 million - will mark a new chapter in the gallery’s history through the creation of new exhibition, engagement and conservation spaces.

Orange Regional Gallery was granted $4.052 million dollars in the first round of the NSW Government’s Regional Cultural Fund to extend the Gallery.

The current extension plans include a large new gallery space for contemporary art exhibitions, a lobby and theatrette able to seat 75 for community engagement, and a state of the art climate-controlled art storage and conservation area.

Community contributions will take the extension to the next level, creating a visual arts hub which will deliver the best in local, national and international art and education programs to local and visiting audiences for decades to come.

With community support, Orange Regional Gallery will ensure that this ambitious transformation of the Gallery will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the arts in the Central West.

Orange City Mayor Reg Kidd said he is thrilled to see the extension plans come to fruition that will only be enhanced with the help of the community.

Mayor Kidd notes “in order to take the extension to the next level, Orange Regional Gallery will be working with members of the community to make that happen through a new fundraising campaign. There are a number of ways in which the community can get involved, which include purchasing naming rights of particular areas or by choosing to become a donor.”

Orange City Council’s Services Committee Chair Scott Munro said he too looks forward to seeing the extension taken to the next level, to ensure Orange Regional Gallery evolves as a destination for cultural tourism with the capabilities to host exhibitions on an international scale.

Munro adds “with the support of the community we will have a state of the art Gallery that will exceed everyone’s expectations. Rather than a somewhat standard fit out, which is what the original extension funding covers, options to complete extra components will become available.

“We will be able to finish the fit out of the storage and conservation areas with custom built art storage racks and compactor units, as well as deliver an innovative and comprehensive daylighting system across a range of spaces.”

Fundraising Lead for the Gallery extension project, Kathy Snowball said this campaign, with the help of generous members of the community will make a major difference in how art is able to be delivered to those in the region.

“I am thrilled to be involved with the new Gallery extension, it is a visionary project that will not only have far reaching benefits for the Gallery and the arts but for the whole of Orange.

“We will have a beautiful space where residents and visitors will be inspired, create and learn and I look forward to working with the community to make this vision a reality.”

Naming the newly refurbished reception and the conservation areas in recognition of over three decades of valued community support is also being proposed for the Friends of Orange Regional Gallery and the Orange Regional Arts Foundation.

All images are renders of proposed extension courtesy of Orange Regional Gallery