Sydney MCA's $53 million expansion set to start

The planned redevelopment of Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art is due to begin in June.

Finance for the $53 million project has been finalised with $26 million in NSW an Federal Government funds being augmented by a $15 million donation from Sydney investment banker Simon Mordant and his family.

The controversial plans for the Circular Quay gallery include an extension wing on the north side of the site, a centre for ‘creative learning’, a rooftop sculpture garden, library and about 23% more exhibition space.

Planning for the extension, described by MCA Director, Elizabeth Ann Macgregor as her ''long-term dream'', began eight years ago with the work set to take about 18 months to complete.

The extension will be known as the Mordant wing.

Mordant, who is joint Chief Executive of the corporate advisory firm Greenhill Caliburn, has been pivotal to the plan's execution. The arts enthusiast joined the MCA board in the 1990s and became Chairman of its foundation in 2007 to lead fund-raising efforts for the redevelopment. He made an initial contribution of $5 million to the development.

Mordant told the Sydney Morning Herald ''I felt that I couldn't go around and ask people for support if I hadn't made a material commitment myself.

“At that time I thought that we should aim to raise 50% from the private sector and 50% from government.''

The NSW Government later pledged $10 million but the global financial crisis struck and it became hard to raise money, Mordant added. As a result, during the summer he sought to ''re-energise'' the project and increased his pledge to $15 million on condition that government funding was sufficient and the project started before 30th June.

The Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese, pledged $13 million while NSW Premier Kristina Keneally raised the NSW's commitment to $13 million to match it.

The design of the new wing, by architect Sam Marshall in partnership with the NSW Government Architect came under fire when it was revealed in December 2008. However, Mordant believes the design is ''fantastic'', blending well with its environment while being clearly contemporary and highly functional.

The go-ahead for the MCA’s redevelopment was welcomed by Premier Keneally who said it would ''allow the MCA to stand alongside the world's greatest museums.”

The Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) also welcome the prospect of an upgrade MCA hosting larger and more diverse international exhibitions, with TTF Executive Director Brett Gale stating “this expansion will reinforce the MCA’s position at the forefront of art venues in the Asia-Pacific region and will allow the hosting of an even greater variety of exhibitions.”

Gale went on to explain “one in three international visitors to Sydney visited an art gallery or museum last year, while the recent Masterpieces from Paris exhibition in Canberra attracted nearly half a million visitors and contributed almos $100 million to the economy, clearly demonstrating that art-based events help to drive visitation.”