Doubt over $22 million Hans Heysen Gallery at Hahndorf
It’s a key part of Adelaide’s $551 million city deal, but the funding of the Hans Heysen Galley upgrade at Hahndorf is unclear as a major deadline looms.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Grand plans for the old home of Hans
- Prizes, discounts, freebies: Check out the latest subscriber rewards
A key piece of South Australia’s city deal is in limbo, with funding for the $22 million upgrade of Hans Heysen’s Cedars property at Hahndorf up in the air as a major deadline looms.
The Federal Government has committed $9 million to build a new gallery among other visitor attractions, however neither the State Government nor the Hans Heysen Foundation have committed to funding the remainder.
Architectural concept drawings of a 20m-high cube at the property, dubbed the “light box”, were released last year.
Under the terms of the city deal, a project plan needs to be completed and an architect engaged to develop plans for council approval by the end of March.
When asked if the State Government would give any money to the project, a spokeswoman said: “The Cedars is receiving $9 million as part of the Adelaide City Deal, which was negotiated by the federal, state and local governments”.
A tender for architectural services is due to be released this week by Beyond Ink, who have been appointed as project managers for the Gallery development.
Hans Heysen Foundation Board chairman, James Sexton, remained tight-lipped on how the $13 million shortfall would be funded.
Mr Sexton refused to say how much additional money needed to be fundraised, if the foundation would meet the March deadline, and what the project timeline was.
The Advertiser last year reported that a little over $8 million has been raised, which included a $1.5 million grant from the Mount Barker District Council.
Instead Mr Sexton said he was “thrilled with all the support we have received” for the new Heysen Art Gallery and Cultural Precinct Development.
“Once the architect has been appointed, we will start to further develop a detailed scope for the gallery,” he said.
In September it was reported that members of the committee advising the Foundation’s trustee had all quit and had not been replaced.
The sudden rush for the exits left some observers uneasy ahead of the Foundation receiving money under the City Deal.
The “light box” proposed at the old home of celebrated artist Hans Heysen, was expected to have four levels.
A ground floor would house a shop and a cafe, while level one would be a gallery for the work of Hans Heysen and his daughter Nora Heysen, level two for visiting artists, and level three was a function space.
Mr Sexton previously said the idea was not final, and that the plan could revert to the single-storey building first envisaged.
