FAQs

The Noosa Regional Gallery Pre-Feasibility Study stage 2 follows from the Noosa Regional Gallery Pre-Feasibility Study stage 1 which was completed in early 2021.

The 2021 Study recommended, based on comprehensive review of local, state and federal planning priorities, Noosa Regional Gallery (NRG) facility challenges and current services, the local and regional gallery marking and benchmarking, research on the value and benefits of arts and culture, gallery industry and tourism trends and review of previous NRG consultation feedback, that a new Gallery is needed and that the next stage of pre-feasibility work (stage 2) should be undertaken.

The purpose of the Noosa Regional Pre-Feasibility Study stage 2 is to further explore the options and opportunities, benefits and risks of developing (or not redeveloping) a new or upgraded Noosa Regional Gallery.

The project will include community consultation to discuss and refine previous study findings and recommendations. It will also deliver:

• A detailed options analysis to discuss and recommend where a new gallery should be developed, and
• What this would mean for the services and any impact on costs, risks and benefits for the community.

The pre-feasibility study stage 1 told us that the Noosa Regional Gallery is a very popular and highly subscribed service but that the Gallery facility is reaching the end of its useful life and has fallen behind current standards. It found that the Gallery will find it increasingly hard to deliver the services expected of it because of the quality and size of its existing facility, if upgraded facilities are not developed.

A number of options for what should be planned for the Noosa Regional Gallery were identified and Noosa Shire Councillors agreed that:

Option 1 - Do nothing:

• Is not viable if we want to retain a relevant and purposeful NRG into the future.

Option 2a - Refurbish the existing gallery: 

• Has been shown to not be viable as a gallery facility of the size and scale required would not fit within the existing footprint.

Option 2b - Develop new gallery on existing site - build new gallery spaces over carpark and repurpose existing space: 

• Supported for further consideration.

Option 3 - Develop a new gallery on an alternative site (or sites) in location(s) that will best optimise aspirations/outcomes:

• Supported for future consideration

If redeveloped as a state of the art, high quality and innovatively programmed art museum, the stage 1 study told us that NRG would be well placed to become a significant cultural tourism destination.

Also, providing it is appropriately funded to deliver innovative and unique programming, a return on investment as has been experienced in other notable locations (eg. MONA (TAS) or Bendigo Art Gallery (VIC)) via the flow on effect of drawing people to the region (eg. tourism, accommodation, food and beverage and attendance at other local features) and employment, could be expected.

The decision to commit to a new Noosa Regional Gallery has not been made. It is important that any such decision is is only made after properly engaging with the community. That's why we really want to hear from you.

Part of the process we are undertaking at the moment is evaluating a range of possible sites in relation to considerations outlined in Stage 1 of the Pre-Feasibility Study and drawing on a range of principals captured by other Council documents. A summary of these are outlined in the Discussion Paper available through this site. There is also an option to suggest other considerations and even potential sites through the Future Needs and Options survey.

There are a range of opportunities available to the entire community to contribute to this study. One way is to complete the Future Needs and Options survey on this site. There is also a list of in-person consultation opportunities listed under Key Dates. Many of these are scheduled to take place at galleries and art venues throughout Noosa Shire.

A regional gallery is a vibrant, cohesive and inclusive not-for-profit public organisation that delivers inspiring visual art experiences which are relevant and accessible to the whole community.

Regional galleries aim to deliver valuable cultural, social and economic returns to diverse communities. They offer a welcoming environment in which art and art-making reflect the cultural experiences of the region and the nation; and inspires, stimulates and challenges visitors.

The primary functions of a regional gallery include to:

• Collect and preserve works of art related to the region
• Initiate major exhibitions, events and special programs
• Host temporary touring exhibitions and displays
• Provide engaging and educational art-related experiences through appropriate, safe and well-maintained facilities, programs, and publications and merchandise supporting the collection and local and exhibiting artists

Noosa Regional Gallery (NRG) is a much loved and highly valued regional institution. In 2017/18, which was one of the last full years of operation unaffected by the Covid-19 pandemic, 47,000 people visited the Gallery.

Although the NRG is currently rated as a Category A Regional Gallery, according to the Museum & Gallery Services Queensland Exhibition Venue Categories, Council has been aware for some time that its Category A status is increasingly vulnerable. Since it opened in its current location in 1989, the facility has never been refurbished and has only received minor maintenance.

The Gallery has not kept up with exhibition, programming and visitor needs and expectations and its ability to attract and accommodate some types of touring exhibitions is becoming ever more difficult as it does not have the scale and type of facilities that would be expected of a modern, fully functioning public gallery.

In 2014, Council completed a Galleries’ Service Review which started the process of identifying the shortcomings of the existing NRG and the rationale for either refurbishment of the existing or construction of a new NRG building.

Since that review Council has undertaken a number of studies which have all confirmed the need for improved facilities and opportunity for expanded Regional Gallery services.

Additionally, a number of galleries in the region are currently being or are planned to be redeveloped and this will increase competition for Noosa Regional Gallery into the future - in its current state, it is clear that it will continue to fall behind in terms of the exhibitions and programs it can offer.

Noosa Regional Gallery (NRG) is a much loved and highly valued regional institution with around 47,000 people visiting annually prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Noosa Regional Gallery is the only public art gallery in the Noosa region, servicing an area of 870 square kms and a regional population of approximately 53,000 residents. Owned and operated by Noosa Council, the Gallery was established in 1981 and moved into its current retrofitted space at Tewantin during 1989.

The Gallery opens 40 hours over a six-day week. It mounts a changing program of up to 15 exhibitions per year, maintains an active education and public programming service and gift shop.

The Gallery does not have a permanent collection however the Council corporate collection amounts to 188 works and a large digital collection of documentary photographs numbering approximately 3,000, relates to the Gallery’s biennial Floating Land event.

The Gallery is approximately the fourth most visited gallery of the 48 galleries surveyed in Queensland in 2019, the 20^th oldest and 17^th largest in terms of population.

Entry to the gallery is free.

Its vision is: Noosa Regional Gallery will be a beacon for contemporary art and culture in Noosa, on the Sunshine Coast and across Regional Australia.

Its mission is: Noosa Regional Gallery develops and delivers a highly valued and nationally recognised program of diverse, high quality, engaging and meaningful contemporary art experiences.

The research, service and consultation review from the Pre-Feasibility study stage 1 completed in 2021 identified that the Noosa Regional Gallery services into the future should be an expansion of what is currently being provided and include:

• Exhibition Program
  • ‘Blockbuster’ shows
  • Floating Land
  • Curated shows
  • Community access
  • Digital shows
  • Indoor/outdoor connections
• Education and Public Programs
  • Masterclass series
  • Arts classes and workshop program
  • Artist and curator talks
• Artist access – artist studios
• Audience Engagement and Marketing
  • Events
  • Volunteering program
  • Digital engagement
• Creative industry capacity & audience development
• Gift Shop – focus on local craft worker, designers and artist and exhibition related merchandise
• Café/Restaurant

Noosa Regional Gallery (NRG) differs from many other public galleries in that it does not have a permanent art collection.

The NRG’s focus is on curating and hosting exhibitions and providing complementary programming, rather than acquiring and showing its own collection.

One of the things the Noosa Regional Gallery pre-feasibility study stage 2 will consider is whether or not a permanent collection should be developed or what other opportunities there may be for the NRG to take a more unique approach that would continue to grow the NRG’s profile as a distinctive service.

Noosa Regional Gallery (NRG) is one of the oldest public galleries in Queensland and is a much loved and highly valued regional institution. Unlike many other public galleries, its focus is on curating and hosting exhibitions and providing complementary programming, rather than acquiring and showing its own collection.

The NRG was established in 1981 and moved to its current location on the lower level within the current Noosa Council building in 1989. During that time, it has remained much the same space. It has not been refurbished and has received only minor maintenance

One of the things the Noosa Regional Gallery pre-feasibility study stage 2 will consider is where the Gallery should be located.

At the end of the Pre-Feasibility Study stage 1 (2021) Council agreed that it was not viable to ‘do nothing’ or ‘refurbish and retain the gallery within its existing footprint’ if the aim is to sustain a relevant and purposeful NRG into the future.

It supported for future consideration, the options to develop a new gallery on the existing and expanded site (build new gallery spaces over carpark and repurpose existing space) or on an alternative site (or sites) in location(s) that will best optimise aspirations/outcomes.

How a new or redeveloped Gallery will be funded is not know yet. The Noosa Regional Gallery prefeasibility study stage 2 will aim to provide some options for Council to consider.

Industry research shows conclusively that arts and creative initiatives can and do make a significant contribution to the economic, environmental, social and cultural development and wellbeing of communities.

A redeveloped, state of the art NRG would deliver these benefits to Noosa Shire and the broader region.

If redeveloped as a state of the art, high quality and innovatively programmed art museum, the stage 1 study told us that NRG would be well placed to become a significant cultural tourism destination.

Also, providing it is appropriately funded to deliver innovative and unique programming, a return on investment as has been experienced in other notable locations (eg. MONA (TAS) or Bendigo Art Gallery (VIC)) via the flow on effect of drawing people to the region (eg. tourism, accommodation, food and beverage and attendance at other local features) and employment, could be expected.

The Pre-Feasibility study stage 2 will further explore the benefits, risks and opportunities of an upgraded Noosa Regional Gallery facility and service.

In 2020 Council commissioned the Noosa Regional Gallery Pre-Feasibility Study Stage 1, 2021. This report recommended, based on comprehensive review of local, state and federal planning priorities, NRG facility challenges and current services, the local and regional gallery marking and benchmarking, research on the value and benefits of arts and culture, gallery industry and tourism trends and review of previous NRG consultation feedback, that a new Gallery is needed and that the next stage (stage 2) of pre-feasibility work should be undertaken.

Council agreed that it was not viable to ‘do nothing’ or ‘refurbish and retain the gallery within its existing footprint’ if the aim is to sustain a relevant and purposeful NRG into the future.

A consortium of consultants led by Outside the Square Creative Consulting commenced work on Pre-Feasibility study stage 1 in 2020. The final Pre-Feasibility study report was completed in February 2021.

The consortium was commissioned to undertake the second stage of the pre-feasibility study in early 2022.

The Noosa Regional Gallery Pre-Feasibility Study stage 2 is being undertaken to further explore the options and opportunities, benefits and risks of developing (or not redeveloping) a new or upgraded Noosa Regional Gallery.

The project will include community consultation to discuss and refine previous study findings and recommendations. It will also deliver:

• A detailed options analysis to discuss and recommend where a new gallery should be developed, and
• What this would mean for the services and any impact on costs, risks and benefits for the community.

The Noosa Regional Gallery is owned and operated by Noosa Shire Council.

It’s too early to say how much a new or upgraded Noosa Regional Gallery will cost.

One of the things the pre-feasibility study stage 2 will deliver is an indication of the likely cost.

You can contribute your thoughts and feedback about the future of the Noosa Regional Gallery in a number of ways as follows:

• You can read the Discussion Paper on Noosa Shire Council’s ‘Your Say Noosa’ consultation portal and complete the survey questions provided there.
• You could attend one of the numerous Community Conversation sessions being offered in early June 2022
• You could attend one of the Gallery ‘Big Ideas’ Summits being offered in early June 2022 

The period to review previous Noosa Regional Gallery pre-feasibility study findings and provide your feedback is open from 17 May to 13 June 2022 via Your Say Noosa.

Once the pre-feasibility study is finished, it will be presented to Council for consideration. Taking into account any recommendations made in the report, Council will then decide what steps to take next.