Why Montsalvat wants to host Nillumbik Council’s $49m art gallery
The executive director of an Eltham heritage-listed arts precinct says it could house Nillumbik Council’s planned $49 million regional gallery — but says she has big ideas for the historic site even if a separate space is built.
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The owners of a major arts precinct in Eltham are urging the council to invest in their heritage-listed site, rather than splashing $49 million on a separate art gallery.
Nillumbik Council revealed plans for a new multimillion-dollar regional art gallery at a council meeting last month.
It would be 1ha in size, and include a performance space which would seat about 300 people, workshop and retail spaces, art studios, a cafe, and a sculpture garden with a plaza.
While the idea was hailed as the municipality’s next big tourism drawcard, ratepayers and councillors called the project’s high cost into question.
Council documents showed 895 Main Rd in Eltham as the most suitable site for the gallery — the site is council-owned and currently empty.
But Montsalvat executive director Jacqueline Ogeil told the Leader their 4.8ha site should be the “obvious choice” to host the gallery and take the burden off ratepayers.
“What the council is proposing we are offering here at Montsalvat already,” she said.
“Developing Montsalvat will mean the project is not a burden on taxpayers — we are already set up as a major art and tourism hub, have better resources, we are self-funded and attract philanthropic support.”
Montsalvat is Australia’s oldest community for active artists, established in 1934.
It hosts exhibitions, festivals, concerts, workshops and artists’ residencies.
Ms Ogeil said about 50,000 people visited the site each year, but could attract even more visitors with the council’s help.
“We have perfect land for a gallery here, and Montsalvat’s rich heritage in the arts make it the obvious and best location for an art gallery in the Nillumbik shire,” she said.
“We look forward to the outcome of the council’s community consultation as we believe this will reflect the love and support the people of Nillumbik have for Montsalvat.”
Nillumbik Mayor Karen Egan said the council could not pre-empt the community’s feedback, but had proudly worked in partnership with Montsalvat in the past and would continue to do so.
“Council appointed an external consultant to conduct a feasibility study which considered six potential sites for the regional gallery — the community has been asked to give feedback on its preferred site,” she said.
“We’ve also asked the community to provide its preference on whether council should explore public/private partnership models or models that are public only.”
Community consultation will close on Friday — a recommendation will then be made to the council about the best way to develop the regional art gallery.
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Ms Ogeil said she had plans to develop Montsalvat, even if the council went ahead and built a separate regional art gallery.
She said future plans would include an underground art gallery with a sculpture park above ground, increased and new shared pathways to Montsalvat, new access points, new landscape design and international artistic residencies.
“My vision is to make Montsalvat an internationally-respected cultural and tourism precinct that has practical and meaningful exchanges with the local community and the wider Australian artistic community,” she said.
“We also want to provide educational opportunities for people of all ages and stages of life.”
Visit participate.nillumbik.vic.gov.au to have your say about the proposed regional art gallery.
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