GEELONG Gallery will be forced to reduce its exhibitions during construction of new library and heritage centre next door, councillors have heard.
But the gallery requested funding increases of up to 4.7 per cent to cover increased insurance costs and risk management because of the construction work.
The former Geelong library has been demolished and temporarily relocated to the ground floor of an adjancent state offices building.
A report to council this week said key performance indicators for the gallery had been amended following “a greater understanding of the impact of the building program for the (library) over the next two years”.
Exhibitions for the year would reduce from 20 to 16 amid “associated insurance issues”, the report said.
Exhibition hours would fall from 900 to 800 “due to the likely occasional closures of gallery spaces and the interruption of visitor experiences”.
The gallery anticipates more exhibitions with access to additional gallery space in the new building.
