$60M ART GALLERY A STEP CLOSER
BUILDING giant Hansen Yuncken has been awarded the contract to build the $60 million art gallery as part of the next stage of the Gold Coast City Council’s cultural precinct.
The builders have previously built the technically challenging and critically acclaimed Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart.
Economic development and major projects committee chairman Hermann Vorster said the appointment meant the project at Evandale Parklands in Bundall was “unstoppable”.
“We are going to be in position to commission the gallery in 2020,” he said.
“Gold Coasters can have every confidence that there is going to be a thriving cultural economy.
“That is going to give kids the opportunity to work here on the Gold Coast rather than fleeing to Sydney or Melbourne to pursue careers in film and television, dancing, orchestral or whatever it is.”
The new art gallery has been designed with space to house the city’s multi-million dollar art collection.
The collection has outgrown the existing art gallery, with many pieces sitting in storage.
The first stage of the city’s cultural precinct, an amphitheatre, is set to be completed early next month.
Construction of the art gallery is to begin after the Commonwealth Games next year.