Public Galleries

Question 1

Acronym for roles

Answer 1

EPPCC
- educate
- present
- promote
- collect
- conserve

Question 2

Educate

Answer 2

• Teach the public about our cultural / artistic heritage
• School groups, free public tours, professional development for
  teachers
• “Behind the scenes” tours
• Education Officers employed

Question 3

Present

Answer 3

• A public gallery must decide on an exhibition program which will present the best
  exhibitions to the public to ensure attendance.
• Exhibitions are sourced from own collections and travelling exhibitions.
• The exhibition space and design are vital parts of the effective presentation of an exhibition.
  (Example: Art Gallery Ballarat – designated rooms which showcase specific parts of their collection. Older works are hung in appropriate spaces – older sections of the buildings, original features and paint
  colours. Contemporary works housed in newer sections of the building – large, more open spaces with plain white walls
  and limited decoration.
• Conditions such as temperature and humidity in both display and storage spaces
  must also be maintained to ensure that works are presented at their best

Question 4

Promote

Answer 4

• Public gallery must ensure it provides an interesting venue for the public to view
  the collection.
• Exhibitions must be held that will engage the public
• Must consider what and how they promote to increase attendance
• Public galleries promote through a variety of sources – print and electronic media
• Examples: large promotions through sponsorship/publications to schools, mailing lists, members
• Memberships: general, corporate and Artbeat
  (young members 20s & 30s)
• Target audiences eg: publications for students, staff and specific groups

Question 5

Collect

Answer 5

• A Public gallery is a custodian of art on behalf of the public.
• Must develop, maintain and conserve their collection for future
  generations.
• Collection in a public gallery is viewed not sold.
• Collection – works are donated – bequest or by acquisition - funding
  through government

Question 6

Conserve

Answer 6

• Public galleries employ conservators to care for the works in its collection, whilst in storage and on display.
• Conservators first role is to prevent work from being damaged
• Conservation in a large, public gallery is complex and costly, often involving a range of technical procedures
  to
• Restore work that has been damaged.

Question 7

ACCA (public gallery example)

Answer 7

• ACCA has no collection and only
  showcases contemporary exhibitions –
  often created for the space.
• Their main role is to provide exhibition
  space and create discourse around
  contemporary art.
• This gallery type is referred to as a Kunsthalle. Based on the European model of the
  kunsthalle or ‘exhibition hall’, which is flexible and allows for a myriad
  of media to be exhibited
• has four gallery spaces of varying sizes,
  which open out from the distinctive foyer
  space.
• ACCA don’t charge admission
• ACCA’s dynamic architecture also means it is popular for private hire & events. This
  generates further income.