UQ Art Museum
Year in Review 2018
It was a year of change and growth at UQ Art Museum. In 2018 we welcomed 65,676 visitors — our highest number ever.
We contributed a new energy to campus life — study spaces, later opening hours, up-late programs, and our work with UQ partners brought more people together in and around the Art Museum.
Art was an integral part of University life and learning, and in 2018 we delivered:
- 40 tours to 698 UQ students
- 51 tutorials to 838 students from 11 courses in the Alumni Friends of UQ Collection Study Room
- 20 courses to 1032 students within Art Museum spaces
- 77 tours to 1358 international students
- 53 tours and workshops to 778 school students
- 14 tours to 174 members of special interest groups
- 9 tours to 135 international guests.
Thirty-five students were immersed in art museum practice via paid and volunteer positions, scholarships and internships.
They worked on real-life projects and contributed to the running of the Art Museum – generous donors made many of these learning opportunities possible.
“Co-curating Judy Watson: concealed histories with Isabella was a great honour and the guidance we received from Judy and the Art Museum was invaluable.”
— Emma McLean, Kinnane Endowment Curatorial Intern
“I know how important it is to be supported at this earlier stage of your career and I admire UQ Art Museum for empowering emerging curators with a show like this.”
— Dr Judy Watson on working with curators Isabella Baker and Emma McLean
“The Winter Scholarship enriched my academic learning, illuminating connections between art theory and institutional operations, the art market and philanthropy. My potential career paths have now broadened in more directions than I could have ever imagined.”
— Jenna Muir, UQ Art History (extended major) student, UQ Art Museum Advancement Officer, 2018 Winter Research Scholar (Advancement)
Diverse professional learning opportunities for students and staff
Curators gave front-of-house, volunteer and other staff special insights into exhibitions and artworks, which they used to provide richer experiences for the UQ community and other visitors.
“Defying Empire was exceptional – it was powerful, thought provoking and so much more meaningful to have a fantastic student guide.”
— The Hon. Justice A. Philippides, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Queensland
“I’ve learned about world-class exhibitions directly from the people who curated them – the impact this had on my personal and professional development is profound.”
— Nikia Tester, UQ Art History student, UQ Art Museum Casual Museum Attendant, Casual Exhibition and Events Assistant
New ways to teach and learn
Three UQ Visual Arts Curating and Writing students worked under the guidance of Art Museum staff to curate a suite of Collection-based exhibitions for our summer program.
“It’s been humbling to have so many people backing our ideas and helping us bring them to fruition. My career options have opened up and it’s reaffirmed my desire to work in this industry.”
– Brittany-lea Traverso, Summer Mixer curator
Student voices helped us explore new ideas to expand the Art Museum’s reach into the campus and beyond.
Our community connected with artwork and the UQ Art Collection in diverse ways:
- 468 artworks exhibited at the Art Museum – 168 from the UQ Art Collection and 300 loaned from other institutions
- 259 artworks installed across UQ campuses
- 281 artworks made available for learning in the Alumni Friends of UQ Collection Study Room
- 35 artworks loaned to important Australian exhibitions.
Gianfranco Gorgoni Robert Smithson and Nancy Holt at site project for ‘Island of Broken Glass’, Vancouver, Canada, c. 1970 gelatin silver photograph, Robert Smithson and Nancy Holt papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution
Gianfranco Gorgoni Robert Smithson and Nancy Holt at site project for ‘Island of Broken Glass’, Vancouver, Canada, c. 1970 gelatin silver photograph, Robert Smithson and Nancy Holt papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution
Pioneering exhibitions
With artworks loaned from major Australian and international collections, Robert Smithson: Time Crystals was the first major Australian survey of work by one of America’s most influential artists.
“Scholarly, engaging, breaking new ground and adding to the global knowledge of Robert Smithson, this exhibition was a laboratory of ideas that will continue to resonate long into the future. At Holt/Smithson Foundation we were honoured to work with the team, and we see this as a model partnership as we develop the ambitions of this new foundation into the future.”
— Lisa Le Feuvre, Executive Director Holt/Smithson Foundation, Santa Fe, USA
Clive Murray-White’s previous iteration of Smokework was held on the grounds of UQ in 1971. On 9 March 2018, the artist restaged this immersive experience.
“Watching Smokework unfold and seeing it bring the audience together and to life on such a beautiful evening, was a highlight for me in 2018.”
— Nicola Garrett, UQ Art Museum
Our program honoured First Nation people, history, culture and art, making a rich contribution to campus life and culture.
“Our students highly valued their visits to the Art Museum and the opportunities to engage with Indigenous art, culture and artists – it’s preparing them to operate in a more culturally diverse society.”
— Natalie Oostergo, Deputy Academic Director (Arts and ELICOS), International Education Services (IES)
“Having access to a wide range of artworks at the Art Museum has boosted the sense of community and connection to UQ, and our students have learned so much about Indigenous art and culture – something they regularly request.”
— Andy Parkinson, Activities Officer, Institute of Continuing & TESOL Education, UQ
With great pride we observed Art Museum alumni embrace new career opportunities in Australia and around the world.
“The quality of the Art Museum’s training gave me the skills and confidence to embrace exciting international opportunities. I’m grateful for the donor-funded research scholarship that got me started.”
— Marcella Fox, UQ Bachelor of Business Management (Marketing) and Arts (Art History) graduate, UQ Art Museum 2017 Winter Scholar, front-of-house staff and volunteer, currently undertaking an internship at Sotheby’s in the UK
Our big-hearted supporters not only helped us deliver important learning and career development opportunities for students, but they also enriched our Collection and our community.
“Working with such a special ceramics collection at the Rockhampton Art Gallery during my internship enhanced my professional skills and knowledge and made me more determined than ever to pursue a career in registration and object management.”
— Natasha Vigar, UQ Master of Museum Studies graduate and 2018 Kinnane Endowment Regional Intern