Geelong Gallery has won the Corporate Social Responsibility category of the 2019 Deakin University Geelong Business Excellence Awards.
Established in 1896, Geelong Gallery features a magnificent collection of Australian and European painting, sculpture, print-making and decorative arts dating back to the 18th Century.
“We contribute to the life and well-being of the city by fostering strong community engagement with the excellence of our collection, inspiring exhibitions and lifelong learning programs,” the gallery says in its business awards entry submission.
The gallery’s four “strategic pillars” are: promoting artistic and cultural advancement in the community, thus making Geelong a more liveable city; bringing economic benefit to the region through tourism arising from exhibitions and events; providing lifelong, inclusive learning for everyone; and aiming to expand facilities to provide greater access to collections and landmark exhibitions, thus underpinning the delivery of all pillars.
“With a proposed expansion into the 1856 Town Hall building in the next five years, our challenge is to create a new model for a regional gallery to ensure we keep pace, bring international content to our region and enhance our community and social offering beyond that of our competitors,” the entry submission says.
Geelong Gallery is the only public gallery serving the G21 region, encompassing City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliffe, and Surf Coast, Colac Otway and Golden Plans shires.
“Our key point of difference is our focus on Australian landscape, print making, decorative arts and works focused on the evolution of Geelong,” the entry submission says.
Entry to the Gallery is free, except for one to two annual ticketed exhibitions.