Devonport Regional Gallery

DEVONPORT REGIONAL GALLERY

The Devonport Regional Gallery is situated in the heart of Devonport in the paranaple arts centre and is owned and operated by the Devonport City Council. It has three separate gallery spaces as well as a Creative Space for workshops.  The gallery has evolved from the vision of Jean Thomas who founded The Little Gallery in 1966. Her vision for the gallery was to be a centre for community arts and activities and to provide a program of exhibitions of national and international artists.

THE COLLECTION

The Devonport Regional Gallery has a permanent collection that focuses on Tasmanian art, craft and design. The Collection comprises over 2,000 art objects including the Robinson Photographic Collection and the Moon Collection of predominently textiles from the 19th and 20th Century. The Permanent Collection holds the works of prominent artists such as George Lambert, Lloyd Rees, Arthur Boyd, Nell Frankcombe, Edith Holmes, Les Blakeborough, Raymond Arnold, David Stephenson, Neil Haddon, Pat Brassington and Julie Gough. A new Art Storage Facility was completed in 2014 and provides dedicated rooms for the Robinson Collection, The Moon Collection and textiles and Works on Paper, Ceramics and Paintings. The facility is also used as a training area for minor conservation and collection management.

EXHIBITION PROGRAM

DRG presents an annual program of exhibitions, education and public programs including events and workshops. Key gallery staff hold qualifications in the arts. The Curator is responsible for  Collection exhibitions; an annual Solo Commission exhibition and a group exhibition. In the past decade the Gallery has  toured a selection of its staff curated exhibitions nationally and the exhibition, From an Island South curated by Jane Stewart toured Asia through AsiaLink in 2006.

The Gallery presents Learning programs at the Gallery and  Outreach programs at schools, childcare and family centres including Create & Make, Pop Up Toddlers, Little Aesthetics – a primary school program and OutThere,  a program that caters for older people in care and at the Gallery. Other programs include day and evening art workshops and classes, performances by local and touring artists; the tidal Festival and a Youth Week Tasmania  Festival.

The Bienniel tidal: City of Devonport Art Award is regarded as a highlight  on the national calendar of prizes . With an acquisitive award of $15,000 tidal is held every two years attracting a high calibre of artists from around Australia.