Gold Coast Art Gallery: Mayor Tom Tate puts call out for famous artworks to kick start city’s new HOTA gallery

THE iconic works of Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso could be displayed on the Gold Coast under a bold plan to tap into the lucrative art tourism market.

A CALL has gone out for anyone with a lazy Warhol, Picasso, Monet, van Gogh or even a Rembrandt hanging around to pick up the phone and talk to our mayor.

If Tom Tate gets his wish, the iconic works of Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso will be displayed on the Gold Coast under a bold plan to tap into the lucrative art tourism market.

Some of the world’s most famous artwork will be targeted in an international charm offensive to secure the works for the inaugural season of the Gold Coast’s new $60 million art gallery.

Artist impressions of Gold Coast Art Gallery at the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct, Evandale, Gold Coast Home of the Arts (HOTA). Supplied by Gold Coast City Council

With the gallery set to open in October 2020, Cr Tate is putting out an international call to notable art collections and famous galleries, requesting they lend works to the Gold Coast for display.

Cr Tate said securing a “hero’’ piece of artwork for the gallery’s opening would help cement the Gold Coast as a cultural destination and attract a new audience.

PARKING SCRAPPED AT EVANDALE FOR ART GALLERY

Andy Warhol in 1976 (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

“Everyone knows the art gallery is opening in late 2020 and we need to have a plan to get top of the range artworks to bring people here to visit,” he said.

“I am appealing to the generosity of collections to make available their wonderful artwork so they are accessible to the 13 million visitors we get each year as well as the 600,000 locals.

“There are some Picassos in Australia already which are worth millions and it would be great to have those.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Jerad Williams

“We are also appealing to major galleries to see what pieces they are not currently displaying and to get them on loan. Some Andy Warhol would be amazing.”

He is also appealing to philanthropists to assist the city with funding to secure great works.

Among the artists whose work the Mayor hopes to attract are Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt, Warhol and Picasso.

To successfully lure a collection of prized art, city hall would have to put up a significant amount of money to cover the cost of insuring the works and paying for their shipping here.

Pablo Picasso 'Woman’s Head'

However, Gold Coast Tourism chief executive Annaliese Battista said securing an exhibition of famous artwork would in turn pay significant dividends for the city.

“Especially with high-level travellers, this would be a major attraction and the Gold Coast has made an impressive investment with the Home of the Arts,” she said.

“I support the idea of getting the works of Warhol or Picasso — both have a cheeky and irreverent style which matches the Gold Coast’s personality quite well.

Annaliese Battista. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Something like this could really put the gallery and the Coast on the map and the building itself can be an attraction too. Just look at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Tasmania.

“Cultural tourism is a growth area for the Gold Coast as well as internationally.”

Construction recently began on the new art gallery as part of the $80 million second stage of the Gold Coast cultural precinct at the Home of the Arts (HOTA), which includes a “green’’ bridge between Evandale and Chevron Island.

The gallery will open in 2020. Supplied by Gold Coast City Council

The gallery will have a floorspace of 6500 sqm across five levels and will be the biggest regional art gallery in Australia.

Key features of the six-storey building include:

• A main hall that will host travelling exhibitions.

• A rooftop restaurant and function space with 270-degree views of the Surfers Paradise skyline and Hinterland.

• A colourful exterior inspired by the “voronoi shape’’, which can be seen in nature.

• A children’s gallery.

• An outdoor art terrace.

• An artist workshop that will also cater to school students.

• A ground-floor restaurant attached to the foyer.

The gallery’s main hall will host travelling exhibitions.

It is expected to operate from 7am-6pm seven days a week, with the rooftop restaurant planned to be open as late as midnight when hosting functions.

Cr Tate has also called on some of the city’s richest people to “give back’’ to the Coast by sponsoring exhibits, entire floors or lending pieces from their own art collections.

Millionaire property developer Norm Rix, who is known to collect artwork, said he was not interested.

“I already have a nice arty collection and I am not attracted to this idea,” he said.

“I have charities we support and the money is better invested in those.

“However art is important to the community and full marks to Tom for the idea. I wish him well.”

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Philanthropist Pat Corrigan, who made his fortune in freight and has himself been painted 16 times as a subject for the Archibald Prize, has been the largest donor of artwork to the Gold Coast city collection since the 1980s, with some pieces expected to be featured in the new gallery.

He said the public appeal was a “good place to start”.

“Collectors like to know their work will be displayed in a certain way,” he said.

“Right now my collection as a whole is scattered across Australia but the Gold Coast has always been my favourite.

“This is a great way to start off and it will get everyone thinking.”