Charlotte Varcoe
RIDDOCH Arts and Cultural Centre will be upgraded with $170,000 previously allocated for a crate loader.
The reallocation of funds was recently approved by Mount Gambier City Council.
Aimed at assisting with unloading artworks for the gallery from Bay Road, the crate loader is no longer needed as an alternative has been identified.
Instead artwork will now be loaded and unloaded via Watson Terrace, reducing the immediate risk for workers and allowing the funds to be reallocated elsewhere.
City Council general manager of city growth Tim Coote said staff examined the concerns of loading and unloading artwork and determined the new route would not pose a risk.
“Originally artwork was being unloaded on Bay Road which became a problem because it is a busy road and the other problem was that there was a previous exhibition where the work came in multi-stack layer containers which required unloading that isn’t really the norm and required specialist unloading,” Mr Coote said.
“We interacted with a number of galleries across the nation and our new gallery manager Diana Warnes has since brought forward alternatives for safe loading and unloading handlings of works.”
Mr Coote said although the alternative route was a longer journey for workers, it lessened the risk, eliminating the need for the crate loader.
“This being the case, it gives us the opportunity to look at repurposing the funds and we are eager to look at the best use of those funds,” he said.
“It gives a fantastic opportunity to upgrade some aspects of the Riddoch.”
Mr Coote said staff had not identified the works needed to be done but would start discussions with external stakeholders who may be impacted, including people who were scheduled to host exhibitions throughout the coming year.
He said options included possible gallery wall restoration, moveable wall redesign and showcase purchases for the gallery.
