Orange Regional Gallery’s fundraising bid to bring extension to its full potential

An extension of Orange Regional Gallery which is valued at $4.5 million, will mark a new chapter in

the Gallery’s history through the creation of new exhibition, engagement and conservation spaces.

Community contributions will take the extension to the next level, creating a visual arts hub which will

deliver the best in local, national and international art and education programs to local and visiting

audiences for decades to come.

With community support, Orange Regional Gallery will ensure that this ambitious transformation of

the Gallery will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the arts in the Central West. The proposal will

go to the next Orange City Council meeting, being held on Tuesday 16 June.

The current extension plans include a large new gallery space for contemporary art exhibitions, a lobby

and theatrette able to seat 75 for community engagement, and a state of the art climate-controlled

art storage and conservation area.

Gallery exterior

Orange City Mayor Reg Kidd said he is thrilled to see the extension plans come to fruition that will only

be enhanced with the help of the community.

“In order to take the extension to the next level, Orange Regional Gallery will be working with

members of the community to make that happen through a new fundraising campaign. There are a

number of ways in which the community can get involved, which include purchasing naming rights of

particular areas or by choosing to become a donor,” Cr Kidd said.

Orange Regional Gallery was granted $4.052 million dollars in the first round of the NSW

Government’s Regional Cultural Fund to extend the Gallery.

Donor wall

Orange City Council’s Services Committee Chair Cr Scott Munro said he too looks forward to seeing

the extension taken to the next level, to ensure Orange Regional Gallery evolves as a destination for

cultural tourism with the capabilities to host exhibitions on an international scale.

“With the support of the community we will have a state of the art Gallery that will exceed everyone’s

expectations. Rather than a somewhat standard fit out, which is what the original extension funding

covers, options to complete extra components will become available,” Cr Munro said.

“We will be able to finish the fit out of the storage and conservation areas with custom built art storage

racks and compactor units, as well as deliver an innovative and comprehensive daylighting system

across a range of spaces.”

Fundraising Lead for the Gallery extension project, Kathy Snowball said this campaign, with the help

of generous members of the community will make a major difference in how art is able to be delivered

to those in the region.

“I am thrilled to be involved with the new Gallery extension, it is a visionary project that will not only

have far reaching benefits for the Gallery and the arts but for the whole of Orange,” Ms Snowball said.

“We will have a beautiful space where residents and visitors will be inspired, create and learn and I

look forward to working with the community to make this vision a reality.”

Gallery interior

Naming the newly refurbished reception and the conservation areas in recognition of over three

decades of valued community support is also being proposed for the Friends of Orange Regional

Gallery and the Orange Regional Arts Foundation

If members of the public or community groups are wanting more information on how they can get

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