The spotlight is on Rockhampton's Museum of Art (RMOA) this week with the building earning a commendation at the Minister's Awards for Urban Design 2024.
The awards celebrate excellence in urban design across the State and recognise projects which are shaping Queensland communities.
Rockhampton Region Mayor Tony Williams said he was thrilled to announce that the Rockhampton Museum of Art earned a commendation at the Minister's Awards after being selected as one of five finalist projects.
"It's great to see this recognition for the Museum of Art which has quickly become a fixture of our city's landscape," Mayor Williams said.
"The Rockhampton Region has a remarkable collection of art thanks to the foresight of Mayors and Councils past.
"RMOA is the next stage in that legacy which has become a place that not only showcases this extraordinary collection but is a great piece of architectural art in itself.
"I am very proud to see RMOA take out this honour and, in particular, to see the awards recognise Rockhampton's growing reputation as a vibrant cultural hub."
RMOA's commendation in the Minister's 2024 Awards adds to other recent honours for the project, including:
- Winner 2023 Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, The Australian Institute of Architects' 2023 Awards
- The F D G Stanley Award for Public Architecture, 2023 Queensland Architecture Awards
- Central Queensland Building of The Year, 2023 Australian Institute of Architects' Central Queensland Regional Architecture Awards
In awarding RMOA's commendation, the awards' jury highlighted Rockhampton Regional Council, Conrad Gargett, Clare Design and Brian Hooper Architect for a 'magnificent project born through multi-level collaboration'.
Since opening its doors in early 2022, the Rockhampton Museum of Art has welcomed over 211,000 visitors, with 90,000 in the 2023/24 financial year.
This traction reflects the Museum's success in attracting and engaging audiences through both its design and a program of 39 diverse exhibitions since opening.
Commendation brief:
The Museum of Art is a transformative insertion between a magnificent Heritage building, a riverside and urban public space.
In producing an outstanding piece of architecture, the public spaces and cross-block links have been activated to allow inclusion, climate relief and connection that also delightfully invite participation in the building program.
This project was achieved through a multi-level collaboration with Council and highly skilled professionals working locally, regionally and in Brisbane. The Rockhampton Museum of Arts has deftly incorporated place-based responses with innovative gallery design in a constrained space to achieve a building that is a joyful celebration and a legacy design worthy of a remarkable artistic collection.
The jury commends Rockhampton Regional Council. Conrad Gargett, Clare Design and Brian Hooper Architect for a magnificent project born through multi-level collaboration.
