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Riddoch Art Gallery closing its doors

Posted on November 26, 2009, 8:08am and updated on November 27, 2009 at 9:01 am

The Riddoch Art Gallery will close its doors to the public on December 6 for at least a year while undergoing a revamp as part of the main corner redevelopment.

The revamp will include the elegant King’s Theatre, which has been closed off to the public for many decades, and which will be reopened as additional exhibition gallery space.

Cost-effective climate control and a lighting system to help preserve the gallery’s collection of more than 1000 artworks, a loading area, a goods lift, wheelchair access and more workshop space are also included in the plans.

But the closing of the doors means that other doors will open into a new era for the gallery.

“This is a good opportunity for a spring clean, to rationalise our procedures, and to work out, with the support of the Friends of the Riddoch Art Gallery, what interesting programs we can offer,” gallery director Lucia Pichler said.

“The new gallery will have space for community exhibitions, Studio One next door will be incorporated and Studio One will become a resource centre and meeting room.

“We will be able to work out how we are going to utilise it to meet our visitor target of a 5pc increase per year until 2012 — we have already had a 9pc increase in the past year, and we are aiming for about 20,000 visitors in the new gallery per year.”

Every artwork in the gallery’s permanent collection is currently being revaluated, photos are being taken and details documented into a database for a future website, before the artworks are transported to Melbourne where they will be kept in secure, climate controlled conditions until the re-opening.

When the new library opens in December, staff will move into the old library from where they will continue their administrative duties.

And although on a smaller scale, exhibitions will continue.

At least 11 exhibitions by Limestone Coast artists will be held at Moltens Cafe in Commercial Street, and the Rodney Gooch art collection will go on tour next year.

“I think it’s really important to investigate the story of John Riddoch after whom the gallery was named, and the story of the King’s Theatre so that these stories can be on display in the new gallery,” Ms Pichler said.

The gallery will celebrate a new era with a “closing of the door” party from 6pm to 8pm on Friday, December 4.

Guests are encouraged to wear something arty and colourful with a touch of flair and flamboyance for the celebration as a secret judge will award prizes for their sartorial efforts.

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