Visiting Wollongong Art Gallery will become a more social experience under a new five-year strategic plan to make the facility more "vibrant" and "friendly".
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Gallery program director John Monteleone said they spent a two-year period engaging with the community.
"We asked them what they like about the gallery, what they think would improve the gallery, and what kind of things they would like to see us do," he said.
Having played a key role within the city's cultural landscape for 40-plus years, a new strategic plan for the gallery aims to set a clear focus for the next five years.
A report to next week's Wollongong City Council meeting outlines the draft Framing Our Future, Wollongong Art Gallery Strategic Plan 2020-2025.
The plan outlines some of the feedback received.
According to the report, the community wants to see more interaction with the Arts Precinct and broader CBD; more exhibitions that engage with and tell regional stories; more exhibitions that promote inclusion, particularly for marginalised groups; more opportunities to engage and learn about Aboriginal culture; and to make visiting the gallery a more social experience, including a cafe and bigger gift shop.
In an effort to create a "more vibrant Art Gallery service for Wollongong", the draft plan has six broad focus areas.
These focus areas are place, program, art collection, visitor experience, profile, and partnerships.
Mr Monteleone said the new plan was about setting themselves some goals and direction that they can try to work towards, in order to create a better gallery in five years' time.
"It's about ensuring that we're looking to do the best we can over the next few years and that we have things in place to help us get there.
"If you look at the focus areas, they're very much about the place, and that includes both the physical place and the gallery as a building and a facility, but it also includes our place in the community.
"Another key focus is making it a social experience... Being a place to meet friends to have a social experience as well.
"How do we make it a friendlier experience for people, so when they walk in from the street into the gallery they feel welcome?
"Also, how do we change the building to make it more friendly?"
Mr Monteleone said they had also consulted with members of the art community and other groups.
The report to next week's meeting seeks council's endorsement for the draft Framing our Future to be placed on public exhibition from July 2 to August 6.
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.