Blockbuster art event at GOMA showcases European masterpieces
As one blockbuster art event begins at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art, the Premier has announced a plan to keep the big shows coming.
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As one blockbuster art event begins on Saturday at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art, the premier has announced another $6 million in funding allocated in next week’s budget to keep the big shows coming.
Launching European Masterpieces from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, on Friday night, Annastacia Palaszczuk announced more funding to keep QAGOMA (Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art) at the forefront of Australia’s state galleries.
“Next week’s Budget will include a $6 million injection over three years and builds on our commitment of more than $20 million in blockbuster funding since 2016,” the Premier said.
“Blockbuster art exhibitions are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to attract visitors and events which deliver a vital boost to our economic recovery, creating jobs, advancing local tourism and presenting globally significant arts experiences for Queenslanders and visitors.
“Already, my government’s investment for exclusive exhibitions through QAGOMA has contributed more than $85 million to the economy since 2016.”
In 2017, the Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe exhibition was the largest ever presentation of costumes, props and art from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and attracted more than 269,000 visitors and contributed $18.52 million into the Queensland economy.
On top of this, QAGOMA was the first Australian gallery since the start of COVID-19 to stage a blockbuster exhibition, with the recent The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire attracting over 112,000 visitors.
This latest blockbuster, European Masterpieces, which will run until October 17, features 65 works transported halfway across the world. The exhibition covers 500 years of art history and features works by Titian, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Goya, Turner, van Gogh, Monet and others. It was secured through the Palaszczuk Government’s $4 million blockbuster exhibition fund.
QAGOMA director Chris Saines said these works rarely left permanent display in New York. They were transported here under tight security with experts from the US flown in to check nothing was damaged in transit.
Saines said the exhibition was a chance for as Australian audience to see works that they could not otherwise see due to the pandemic.
“In addition to engaging with these great works of art visitors can also immerse themselves in The Studio, an expansive space at the heart of the exhibition,” Saines said. “It features a range of interpretative and interactive experiences including live music and figure drawing from 11am to 3.30pm daily.” There will also be a public program, Up Late events and other experiences during the life of the exhibition.
There are even paintings that move and play music when you approach them.
On Friday night hundreds of people attended an exclusive opening and today GOMA opens the exhibition to the public. Tickets are $28, $23 concession and season passes cost $84.
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