Dept of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications
National Collection: Magnetic Island Art in Townsville
A landscape of Magnetic Island by Arthur Streeton will be shared from the National Gallery of Australia with Perc Tucker Regional Gallery on long term loan thanks to the Albanese Labor Government's Sharing the National Collection program.
A leading member of the Heidelberg School, Streeton's depiction of local landmark, Magnetic Island, was painted whilst visiting the region in 1924.
The painting will be displayed at the gallery, part of the Townsville City Galleries, providing a glimpse at the natural history of the area through the eyes of one of the leading figures in Australian Impressionism.
Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said it was great to see a piece of local history return to where it was made.
"The national collection belongs to the entire nation, not just to Canberra.
"At any point 98 per cent of our national collection is held in storage. Over a million people have now had the chance to see a part of the national collection - that's usually hidden away - because of the Sharing the National Collection program."
Senator for Queensland, Nita Green said the loan was a chance for viewers to connect to the local landmark in a new light.
"Sharing the National Collection allows for locals and visitors to see artworks that are meaningful to the local region.
"This loan encourages viewers to examine their surroundings and consider the many different perspectives that artists have had of the landscape over time."
Director of the National Gallery, Dr Nick Mitzevich, said the National Gallery is proud to bring this work to audiences in North Queensland.
"The Sharing the National Collection program has offered opportunities to partner with regional galleries to bring works of art of local significance to communities across Australia.
"Arthur Streeton is one of Australia's best-known artists and the National Gallery is pleased to partner with Perc Tucker Regional Gallery to share his striking depiction of Magnetic Island under moonlight with the Townsville community on long term loan."
Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto said:
"Townsville has a rich artistic history, and we are proud to be the arts capital of Northern Australia.
"This generous loan will form part of In the Heart of the North (Part 2), an exhibition celebrating life in North Queensland, the Pacific and Southeast Asia and shining a light on our region's natural landscapes and way of life. I hope visitors to Perc Tucker Regional Gallery will take away something special from seeing Magnetic Island in person."
Sharing the National Collection is part of Revive, Australia's national cultural policy. The program has provided $11.8m over four years to fund the costs of transporting, installing and insuring works in the national art collection so that they can be seen right across the country.
Regional and suburban galleries can register their interest in the loan program here.
Images of the work and their attributions can be found here.
https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/burke/media-release/sharing-national-collection-magnetic-island-landscape-drawn-townsville
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