A position paper outlining the needs and potential opportunity for a future regional arts gallery for Townsville is nearing completion.
Mayor Jenny Hill said Townsville would eventually need a custom-made gallery space, but the development of the position paper was just the first step in that process.
"Townsville deserves a new gallery to host world-class facilities and exhibitions in line with its place as the arts and culture capital of Northern Australia," Cr Hill said.
"The arts community has been forecasting the need for a new Gallery to support our future growth. This paper will provide further analysis of economic and stakeholder data to support a business case and any future applications for funding."
"The Perc Tucker Regional Gallery is a much-loved, beautiful heritage space, however it was never built to be a gallery and it limits what exhibitions Townsville can attract and what artwork from the city's art collection can be put on display.
"Contrary to the unfounded and irresponsible rumours circulating online, this process is not about selling Perc Tucker. It's about ensuring Townsville has a robust and informed plan for the development of any future facilities we will need to ensure we remain a cultural powerhouse."
Community and Cultural Development Committee chairperson Ann-Maree Greaney said the Arts Strategy endorsed by Council late last year also highlighted the need for major arts infrastructure to cater for the growing community.
"I'm eager to see the findings from AECOM's position paper because the community engagement undertaken for the Arts Strategy endorsed late last year identified the need for upgraded infrastructure to support our creative industries," Cr Greaney said.
"A new custom gallery space would mean we could bring major international touring exhibitions to Townsville and have a permanent exhibition of our expansive publicly owned art collection.
"I look forward to reading the recommendations made in the position paper and to seeing how we can continue to develop the arts in Townsville."
