A Year in Review
2009 Annual Report
MCA 2009 | A YEAR IN REVIEW
The Museum of Contemporary Art is Australia’s only contemporary art museum dedicated to
collecting and exhibiting contemporary art and engaging in discussion and debate on contemporary
visual cultural issues.
Situated in central Sydney at Circular Quay West, the entrance to Sydney’s historic Rocks precinct,
the MCA seeks to make contemporary art accessible for a broad spectrum of public audiences
through a diverse range of exhibitions incorporating new and more traditional media, stimulating
and hands-on educational programs and special events.
MCA Touring offers innovative and engaging exhibitions and collection projects to galleries and
museums throughout NSW, Australia and the world, contributing to the critical debate about
contemporary art and ideas to a broad public.
Above: Olafur Eliasson Beauty 1993 Cover:: Portrait Yayoi Kusama 2007 Courtesy and © the artist
A Year in Review
2
2009 Annual Report
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
Across the globe, 2009 will be remembered as the year businesses
struggled with the fall-out from the financial crisis. For the MCA, it was a
year of record attendances, prestigious awards, remarkable exhibitions and
quality education programs.
The MCA executive and Board steered the company through the global
financial crisis while delivering the most ambitious exhibition the MCA has
ever staged, Take your Time, Olafur Eliasson. The Eliasson exhibition built on
the momentum triggered in the community by the Yayoi Kusama exhibition
earlier in the year, which broke the MCA attendance record with 175,000 visitors. These exhibitions
have reached a diverse audience providing a unique experience for our visitors and demonstrating
that audiences are keen to experience the work of artists who are not yet household names.
The strength of the program resulted in a new attendance record with over 547,935 visitors, and an
additional 250,334 viewing touring exhibitions at regional and international venues.
The growing support for the capital project has confirmed the pivotal place of the MCA within
Australia. Throughout 2009 the MCA Board, with the Chair of the Foundation Simon Mordant and led
by the Director undertook a campaign to brief supporters and state and federal government
representatives in order to galvanise the support needed for this crucial infrastructure project. I
would like to particularly thank the many building donors whose early commitment has been critical.
I would also like to acknowledge those who helped us maintain our financial good health through a
difficult year: fellow Board members, MCA Ambassadors, donors, sponsors, staff and volunteers,
Special thanks to our funding bodies, the Australia Council and Arts NSW for providing essential
ongoing funding.
I have no doubt that the MCA will continue to build on these successes as we move closer to being
able to commit to beginning the major redevelopment.
Andrew Love
Chairman
Museum of Contemporary Art
A Year in Review
3
2009 Annual Report
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Much has been said about the growing importance of creativity in a globalised
world where ideas and innovation are so highly valued. This growing appreciation
of the role of creativity and arts education and the continuing success of the
MCA are intrinsically linked.
The MCA’s success has helped to shift the perception of contemporary art and
highlight how the arts can be embraced by larger audiences. The Australian
Government has recognised the importance of the arts by announcing that the arts will be included
in the national curriculum from 2011. This focus on creative learning parallels the Museum’s own
shift towards prioritising the role that education and audience participation play in developing a
dynamic community and culture.
The MCA could not have launched a capital campaign at a worse moment but despite the economic
downturn, we have continued throughout the year to try and secure the funds to expand the
Museum. The redevelopment will create a new wing which solves all the museum’s access and
circulation problems which have been exacerbated by the rise in attendance numbers including
school groups. The new education and exhibition facilities will give our visitors the kind of
contemporary art experiences now expected of a leading contemporary art institution.
The community at local, interstate and international levels is embracing the MCA's exhibitions and
education programs in record numbers with corresponding praise and positive recommendations.
During 2009 the MCA presented 13 exhibitions, including a total of 150 Australian artists and 16
international artists.
I’d like to thank all our supporters, new and old who are contributing to make the MCA what it is. I’d
like to thank the Board and especially the Chairman Andrew Love for working with us in this difficult
financial environment. I’d also like to pay tribute to the visionary leadership of our major donor
Simon Mordant whose passion for the new building has kept us all on track. Finally, I’d like to
acknowledge all of the artists who are at the core of delivering the unique MCA experience. These
inventive, curious and talented artists help us to look at the world with fresh eyes. They inspire and
provoke debate and encourage creative exploration of key issues. I’m honoured to have worked with
so many brilliant artists this year and delighted that the MCA’s success means that more people are
enjoying their work.
Elizabeth Ann Macgregor
Director
A Year in Review
4
2009 Annual Report
2009 HIGHLIGHTS
Olafur Eliasson
Sunset Kaleidoscope
•
•
•
•
Exhibition attendances – another record year was achieved with a total of 547,935
people which was up from 533,353 in 2008. The most popular exhibition was Yayoi
Kusama: Mirrored Years with 174,945 visits (1,666 average visits per day). The most
popular Australian exhibition was I Walk the Line: New Australian Drawing with 94,917
visits (1,375 average visits per day).
Of the 13 exhibitions presented, nine featured predominantly, or exclusively, Australian
artists. A total of 150 Australian artists and 16 international artists exhibited artwork
at the MCA in 2009.
In 2009 MCA designed and produced seven major publications (64 pages or more), one
newspaper format (28 pages), one on-line publication/education resource (38 pages),
one printed collection booklet documenting works in the MCA’s collection (28 pages)
and a 4-page exhibition guide.
The schools program achieved over 19,000 participants in 1324 groups from over 680
different institutions visiting.
A Year in Review
5
2009 Annual Report
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The MCA scheduled 65 public programs, including major lectures, artist talks and
workshops which attracted over 13,410 participants. New programs included
Developing Access Tours for the vision and hearing impaired.
Touring exhibition attendances – the total of 250,334 people was slightly down on last
year’s record breaking result of 311,530 people but was well in excess of normal touring
figures and demonstrates consolidation of growth in this area. Exhibitions were
toured nationally to Adelaide, Cairns, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Wollongong and
internationally to Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch and Brooklyn (New
York) and Washington DC.
MCA refurbishment and extension (Masterplan)- Approval was granted from NSW
Department of Planning in July for the proposed extension and refurbishment of the
MCA. Work has continued throughout 2009 on the design development and contract
documentation of the proposed building with the assistance from Arts NSW allowing
the MCA to spend $2.8M of the redevelopment grant.
2009 was a record year for acquisitions to the MCA Collection with a total of 171 new
works being acquired into the MCA Collection. Of these, 140 works were gifts, 139
through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gift Program.
The MCA received 3 major donations including collections from Ann Lewis AO, Henry
Ergas and Michael Hawker. These important collections include works by Rosalie
Gascoigne, Jon Lewis, Robert Rauschenberg, Fergus Binns, Jon Campbell, Patrick
Hartigan, Lou Hubbard, Callum Innes, Emily Kngwarreye, Hany Armanious, Robert Owen,
Susan Norrie, Judith Wright, Jess McNeill, Louise Hearman, Rosemary Laing and Shaun
Gladwell.
The MCA obtained new in-kind sponsorships valued at over $740,000 of which over
$140,000 had a direct impact on reducing the bottom line.
The C3West project continued to develop new ways of working with contemporary art,
commerce and community furthering three projects in the year: Sylvie Blocher’s ongoing project with the Panthers and Penrith City Council called The Panthers of the
Future/The Future of the Panthers; Activate 2750, a collaboration between Melbourne
artist Ash Keating, SITA Environmental Solutions, Penrith Performing & Visual Arts and
the Penrith City Council and Jeanne Van Heeswijk undertook a 5 week residency in
Goulburn with Veolia Environmental Services in association with Goulburn Regional Art
Gallery. The Centre for Cultural Research of the University of Western Sydney and
C3West presented The Art of Engagement symposium in October.
Additional external programs included generationext at Blacktown Arts Centre, Good
Vibrations travelled to schools in regional Victoria and preparations for the major twoyear national tour of Craig Walsh’s Digital Odyssey project to begin in early 2010.
The Museum embraced social networking with a presence on twitter, facebook and
myspace and increased on line marketing and e-newsletters.
A Year in Review
6
2009 Annual Report
ARTISTIC PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Current practices in Australian art were a particularly strong focus of the MCA’s 2009 exhibition
program. Of the 13 exhibitions presented, nine featured predominantly, or exclusively, Australian
artists. A total of 150 Australian artists and 16 international artists exhibited artwork at the MCA in
2009. The programming team has made it a policy to strongly profile Australian artists in years
alternate to the Sydney Biennale through its Australian Season, and this year an unusually high 90%
Australian content was exhibited. Seven group shows explored the work of contemporary Australian
artists through a specific theme or premis, and all but one was selected by MCA curators. The
exhibitions explored a range of approaches, from the renaissance of drawing in contemporary art –
in the highly popular I walk the line – to ways in which art intersects with the literary world in
avoiding myth & message. Recent film and video works from the MCA’s collection were exhibited in
Rising Tide; artwork by young Australian artists with interdisciplinary practices in Primavera or more
established artists in Making it New. Four of the group exhibitions presented in 2009 were drawn
from the MCA’s Collection.
In 2009 the MCA presented two significant solo exhibitions by contemporary Aboriginal artists Ricky
Maynard and Fiona Foley. Maynard’s Portrait of a Distant Land provided opportunities for MCA
audiences to engage with the documentation of landscapes and cultural practices through
photography, and Fiona Foley: Forbidden – featuring installation, sculpture, photography,
printmaking and film by the artist – presented her uncompromising investigation into Australia’s
colonial histories.
Athol Burgess, Babel Island (detail) from the series The Moonbird
People 1985–88 black and white gelatin silver print Courtesy the
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Studies, Canberra
A Year in Review
7
2009 Annual Report
The MCA’s 2009 autumn season included three very different and engaging exhibitions. The 29
(mostly young) artists in the drawing show I walk the line presented a wonderful range of works
from Richard Lewer’s 5m high wall drawing to the Mangano sisters’ drawing performance and John
Turier’s huge geared drawing machine Never need artists again (2005) on level 2. Yayoi Kusama:
Mirrored Years on level 3 explored the extraordinary creativity and life-long practice of this
Japanese artist with works covering 7 decades, from her early drawings, paintings and films of
performances, ground breaking Kusama environments from the 1960s (Infinity room and Narcissus
Garden) up to present. avoiding myth & message on level 4 brought together a broad range of textbased and word works, artists’ books, concrete poetry, zines and other creative production
including works from the MCA’s contemporary art archive, such as selections from Mike Parr’s gift
of the Inhibodress archive. Public programs formed an integral part of the exhibition and comprised
readings, performances, ‘diy’ publishing and the successful MCA Zine Fair. The exhibition was held in
association with the Sydney Writers’ Festival and provided an opportunity to collaborate with other
literary organisations, such as The Red Room.
In winter Ricky Maynard’s Portrait of a Distant Land, curated by Keith Munro, focussed on
documentary photography and, through public programs and gallery discussions, a range of issues
such as Aboriginal deaths in custody, the 1963 referendum and cultural practices. On level 2
Revealing Moments in Time presented 53 photographs acknowledging US-based social documentary
photographers who have been an important influence on Ricky Maynard’s own practice. On level 3 we
presented Rising Tide, fresh from its exhibition in MCA San Diego earlier in the year, part of an
international exchange of collection exhibitions between our two institutions across the Pacific. The
exhibition included key multi-screen installations by T.V. Moore, Susan Norrie, Kate Murphy, Daniel
Von Sturmer and single screen works by Shaun Gladwell, David Noonan and Patricia Piccinini, among
others, giving audiences an insight into the outstanding quality of recent video art in Australia. The
MCA is excited by the breadth and quality of artworks in its collection, and the exhibition New
Acquisitions 2009 on level 4 presented work by 12 contemporary Australian artists. Selected by
Senior Curator Rachel Kent, it included work by mostly younger artists, installations using light and
kinetics by Nicholas Folland, David Lawrey and Jaki Middleton, Newell Harry and Chris Hanrahan, and
Primavera artists Benjamin Armstrong, Moya McKenna, Danie Mellor and Gemma Smith. Opening
concurrently on level 4 south, the MCA presented the fourth in its series of ‘international pairing’
projects, where an Australian artist exhibits alongside an international peer. Louisa Bufardeci
employs statistical data sourced from the public domain including the CIA fact book, the national
census and opinion polls. Her work transformed the MCA’s Circular Quay and George Street
entrance foyers with flags, floor pieces and the galleries with her extraordinary installation Team
Joy (2004/2009) which questions the role of international organisations such as UNESCO, G8, WHO,
IMF, represented by a coloured rods, the member countries noted in colour-coded bars along the
shaft. Presented alongside Louisa Bufardeci, work by Japanese artist Zon Ito consisted of intricate
embroidered canvases, clay assemblages and hand-drawn animations.
Making It New: Focus on contemporary Australian Art was a major level 3 exhibition which featured
work by 18 established artists, spanning painting, installation, sculpture, video, and new media.
Selected by MCA curator Glenn Barkley, this was the fourth in the MCA’s biennial exhibition series
which focuses on contemporary Australian art practice. It included playful and surprising
installations such as SA glass worker Tom Moore, sculptor Bob Jenyns (regional Vic), Ken Thaiday
Snr (Qld) Linda Marrinon (Vic) and Ken Whisson (Vic/Italy). Primavera 2009: exhibition by Young
Australian artists this year was curated by Jeff Khan, who travelled around Australia to select nine
artists aged 35 years and under. Primavera 2009 artists included Andy Best (SA); Christine Eid (Vic);
Wade Marynowsky (NSW) and Roderick Sprigg (WA).
A Year in Review
8
2009 Annual Report
Jon Campbell yeah yeah yeah 2008 billboard
An initiative of Hobsons Bay City Council, as part of the ‘Conversations’ billboard project
Courtesy and © the artist, Darren Knight Gallery, Sydney and Uplands Gallery, Melbourne
The MCA ended the year with three outstanding exhibitions for the summer by Australian and
international artists – from Richard Dunn and Mikala Dwyer to Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Ildiko Kovacs,
Dorothy Napangardi, Lola Ryan and John Firth-Smith in Almanac; Fiona Foley’s Forbidden on level 4
to the spectacular light-filled environments of internationally respected artist Olafur Eliasson on
level 3. Almanac: The Gift of Ann Lewis AO was an exhibition on levels 1 & 2 recognising a major
donation by Ann Lewis AO, respected Sydney collector and art patron, to the MCA Collection. The
A Year in Review
9
2009 Annual Report
gift spans three decades of unique activity in Australia’s art world, with works ranging from early
Sydney-based abstraction to the establishment and rise of remote Indigenous painting as a critical
part of contemporary Australian culture.
On level 3 the MCA presented a major exhibition Take your time by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur
Eliasson. Organised by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the exhibition drew works from
major collections world-wide, spanning Eliasson’s career from 1993 to the present. It was the first
large-scale exhibition by Eliasson to be presented in Australia, and the artist added a number of
works especially for Sydney, including the popular and hands-on work with white lego bricks from the
collection of Queensland Art Gallery The cubic structural evolution project (2004) and a series of
new photo gravure works direct from the artist’s Berlin studio. Take your time was a feature of the
Sydney Festival in January 2010, and over 63,000 people visited the show during its four-month
duration.
Forbidden on level 4 was the first in-depth solo exhibition by Fiona Foley, with selected installations,
photographic and video works, etchings and sculptures spanning her 20-year career. Individual
works explored a range of themes from politics, race, culture, to female sexuality, ownership,
language and identity. The exhibition was organised in partnership with the University of Queensland
Art Museum, Brisbane, where it was exhibited after the MCA; the joint publication was supported by
the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
Fiona Foley HHH #6 2004 Ultrachrome print on paper
Courtesy and © the artist
A Year in Review
10
2009 Annual Report
MCA ATTENDANCE BY EXHIBITION
Dates
Duration
(days)
Total
Visits
Daily Visits
24th Sept 2008- 1st Feb 2009
132
125,050
947
12th Nov-22nd Feb 2009
130
91,432
697
Simryn Gill: Gathering
20Th Nov- 22nd Mar 2009
123
89,196
708
New Acquisitions 2008
12th Dec 2008 – 1st Mar 2009
78
89,298
1,116
I walk the line: new Australian drawing
17th Mar 09 – 24th May 09
69
94,917
1,375
Yayoi Kusama: Mirrored Years
24th Feb 09 – 8th June 09
104
174,945
1,666
Rising Tide
26th June 09 – 23rd Aug 09
59
66,726
1,130
Ricky Maynard
26th June 09 – 23rd Aug 09
75
85,104
1,050
Primavera 2009
9th Sept– 22nd Nov 2009
75
66,507
886
Making it New: Focus on
Contemporary Australian Art
10th Sept 09 – 11th Nov 2009
63
61,276
973
Louisa Bufardeci & Zon Ito
28th July – 25th Oct 2009
90
60,760
675
Fiona Foley: Forbidden
12th Nov 09 – 31st Jan 2010
83
71,338
860
MCA Collection: New Acquisitions
2009
28th July 09 – 31st Jan 2010
188
142,163
756
Almanac: The Gift of Ann Lewis AO
8th Dec 09 – 18th April 2010
104
171,435
1,648
Take your time: Olafur Eliasson
10th Dec 09 – 18th April 2010
122
63,080
1,377
Exhibition Title
2008 – 2009
Yinka Shonibare MBE
To Make a Work of Timeless Art: MCA
Primavera Acquisitions
2009
2009 - 2010
Total 2009 Attendances= 547,935
Average Daily Attendances= 1,505
A Year in Review
11
2009 Annual Report
NB: The attendances by exhibition total exceed that of the total attendances as visitors generally
attend more than one exhibition.
The MCA uses a digital traffic management system, Traffic Pro, to obtain attendance figures.
Sensors that monitor traffic are placed throughout the Museum. This information is then
transmitted to the MCA’s servers for analysis. The system utilises formulas to calibrate figures to
reflect real visitor movement. The system and recording equipment are monitored and regularly
audited. Gallery traffic is also manually recorded by floor staff at the principal entrance to the
galleries.
Shaun Gladwell Portrait of Michael Dransfield (detail) 2005 lightbox, durotran (A/P) Museum of Contemporary Art, gift of
the artist 2008 Courtesy and © the artist and Anna Schwartz Gallery, Melbourne and Sydney
A Year in Review
12
2009 Annual Report
TOURING EXHIBITIONS
Throughout 2009, the MCA presented five separate touring projects at ten different venues
regionally, nationally and internationally. The overall visitor attendance for MCA touring projects in
2009 was 250,334.
Multiplicity: prints and multiples from the collections of the Museum of contemporary Art and the
University of Wollongong completed a three year tour reaching 9 destinations in New South Wales,
Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland. During 2009 the exhibition was shown at two venues. At
the Art Gallery South Australia, 1280 people visited the show in January. At Wollongong City Gallery,
8745 people visited the exhibition at its final venue. Glenn Barkley, curator of the exhibition
delivered floor talks at both venues. Multiplicity was supported by the Australian Government
through Visions of Australia.
Fiona Hall: Forcefield, developed in partnership with City Gallery Wellington, travelled to
Christchurch Art Gallery in November 2008 and was presented until 15 February 2009. The
attendance recorded for January and February was 64,657. A selection of works from the exhibition
travelled to Govett Brewster Art Gallery in New Zealand where 9674 visitors saw the exhibition. The
exhibition finally travelled to Newcastle Region Art Gallery from 1 August – 27 September 2009
where 12,905 people visited the show. The artist and curators delivered a broad series of public
programs to support the exhibition throughout the tour.
Ricky Maynard: Portrait of a Distant Land toured to the Pataka Museum of Arts & Crafts in New
Zealand from 11 October 2008 – 15 February 2009. The visitor attendance for January and February
was 19,174. The exhibition toured to Cairns Regional Gallery from 20 March – 3 May 2009 where the
visitor attendance was 4,825 and Glasshouse Port Macquarie Hastings Gallery from 19 November
2009 – 1 June 2010 where the attendance for November and December was 5,550. Ricky Maynard:
Portrait of a Distant Land has been supported by the Australia Council for the Arts’ New Australian
Stories Initiative.
Simryn Gill: Gathering commenced touring in 2009 at the Anne & Gordon Samstag Museum of Art in
Adelaide from 7 August – 30 October. 3,178 visitors attended and the artist and curator were
present for public programs. The exhibition tour is supported by the Australian Government through
Visions of Australia.
Yinka Shonibare MBE toured throughout 2009 to three venues including prestigious North American
institutions. After the MCA exhibition period, a selection from the exhibition was presented at
Auckland art Gallery from 28 February – 1 June 2009. 8,900 visitors saw the exhibition in Auckland.
The full exhibition then toured to Brooklyn Museum in New York from 26 June – 20 September 2009
achieving wide international publicity for the MCA with major advertising in New York clearly
branding the exhibition as a MCA Sydney project. Rachel Kent, MCA Senior Curator travelled to New
York to attend the opening and deliver a floor talk. The visitor attendance was recorded as 33,764.
The exhibition concluded at the National Museum of African Art, The Smithsonian Institution,
Washington DC on 7 March 2010. The visitor attendance for November and December is recorded as
77,682. The curator delivered a talk and presented docent training.
A Year in Review
13
2009 Annual Report
Yinka Shonibare MBE How to Blow up Two Heads at Once (Ladies) 2006
two life-size fibreglass mannequins, two guns, Dutch wax printed cotton, shoes, leather riding boots, plinth Davis Museum and
Cultural Center, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, USA Museum purchase, Wellesley College Friends of Art Image courtesy of
the artist, Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and James Cohan Gallery, New York © the artist Photo: Stephen White
A Year in Review
14
2009 Annual Report
MCA TOURING EXHIBITIONS 2010
In 2010 the MCA has four exhibitions touring and others in development. The four exhibitions touring
are: Yinka Shonibare MBE which finishes in Washington DC on 7 March 2010. Ricky Maynard –
Portrait of a Distant Land travels to Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery and other venues to be confirmed.
In 2011 the exhibition will travel to Ian Potter Museum of Art, Tandanya Art Centre, Broken Hill
Regional Gallery and Bundaberg Regional Gallery. Simryn Gill: Gathering will be presented at Heide
Museum of Modern Art, Queensland Art Gallery/GoMA, and Artspace Mackay. Almanac – the Gift of
Ann Lewis AO will commence touring at the end of 2010. The exhibition will tour to 8 venues
throughout Australia from 2011 – 2012.
Gemma Smith Untitled #5 (detail) 2008 acrylic on board
Courtesy and © the artist, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney and Milani Gallery, Brisbane Photograph: John O’Brien
Exhibited in Primavera 2008
A Year in Review
15
2009 Annual Report
MCA TOURING PROGRAM & ATTENDANCES 2009
Exhibition
Multiplicity: prints and multiples
from the Collections of the
Museum of Contemporary Art
and the University of
Wollongong
Fiona Hall: Force Field
Ricky Maynard: Portrait of a
Distant Land
Simryn Gill: Gathering
Yinka Shonibare MBE
Venue
Attendances
1.
Art Gallery South Australia
1,280
2.
Wollongong City Gallery
8,745
3.
Christchurch Art Gallery (NZ)
64,657
4.
Govert Brewster Art Gallery (NZ)
9,674
5.
Newcastle Region Art Gallery
12,905
6.
Pataka Museum of Arts & Crafts (NZ)
19,174
7.
Cairns Regional Gallery
4,825
8.
Glasshouse Port Macquarie
5,550
9.
Anne & Gordon Samstag Museum of Art
3,178
10. Auckland Art Gallery (NZ)
8,900
11. Brooklyn Museum (USA)
33,764
12. Smithsonian (USA)
77,682
TOURING ATTENDANCE
2009
A Year in Review
250,334
16
2009 Annual Report
EDUCATION, YOUTH PROGRAMS AND ACCESS
The MCA’s principle aim is to engage audiences with contemporary art. A significant element is the
provision of educational opportunities for all. Education is recognised as the key means by which we
aim to engage, inform and inspire the broadest spectrum of the public. Education is crucial to
enabling future generations to cope with the major changes that will take place in the workforce
and society over the next 25 years. The MCA’s learning programs aim to provide the types of
experiences that will be needed, developing the powers of communication, creativity and innovation,
with artists forming the core of our programming.
In 2009 the Museum’s ongoing investment in and engagement with its audiences led to strong
attendances across the schools, access, youth, and family and public programs sectors. The schools
program achieved over 19,000 participants in 1324 groups from over 680 different institutions
visiting. Significantly, public programs doubled attendance from 2008, with over 15,000 joining in on
the many workshops, performances and artist talks over the year. In addition, MCA Learning
organised over 100 programs, projects and resources for school, tertiary, youth, access, teacher
and family audiences.
Specific educational programs target primary, secondary and tertiary students, young people with
specific needs, teenagers and carers. To complement its diverse exhibition program, the MCA
offers daily tours, workshops, school holiday programs and public lectures. Specialised programs
include the Bella program for young people with specific needs, Good Vibrations (a touring
interactive art access project) and generationext, designed by and for teenagers.
Formal Education
Education Group Visits
The Schools Program offers unique learning experiences using the exhibitions to provide inspiring
sessions for primary, secondary students and teachers. Both I walk the line: new Australian Drawing
and Yayoi Kusama: Mirrored Years drew-in a particularly large number of senior secondary classes.
In 2009, we welcomed 18,478 education participants across primary, secondary and tertiary
audiences.
A new strand of programs were offered during Spring for HSC students, including a series of
revision sessions prior to the 2009 HSC Visual Arts examination and a Year 12 Enrichment day and
body of work art starter. Both programs were sold out and highlighted the growing need for
galleries to partner with students in linking contemporary art with the syllabus.
Teacher Services
The MCA offers a number of continuing professional development opportunities for teachers
including private viewings of exhibitions. This year the Museum hosted “Teaching Visual Literacy” a 1day conference with the Association of Independent Schools (AIS) for 30 visual arts teachers from
across NSW. The diverse program included practical workshops and presentations from arts
institutions and teachers.
The MCA also demonstrated its commitment to supporting teachers in their classroom teaching by
linking MCA exhibitions to the syllabus through a number of special events and programs. In 2009,
the MCA offered 3 teacher previews and a program of teacher in-service programs to encourage
ongoing professional development. The 2010 Exhibition launch held in December, provided teachers
A Year in Review
17
2009 Annual Report
with an overview of the exhibition program to assist them with their excursion and subject planning.
With 138 teachers attending, this was the MCA’s most popular teacher preview to date.
In 2009, the MCA also piloted an in-service addressing cross-curricular connections for primary
teachers, called Maths in focus-Louisa Bufardeci. Drawing on Bufardeci’s interest in maths and
statistics, primary teachers learnt about and devised ways to link key learning areas with the work
of contemporary artists. This was a popular and well attended workshop.
Special W orkshops
In 2009, MCA Learning was awarded funding from the Coca-Cola Foundation to engage artists in
education workshops. During October, a number of gifted and talented students from DET schools
in the Western Suburbs region participated in the Sonic Sculpture workshop. Facilitated by MCA Art
Educators and Art Handlers and working with Primavera 2009 artist Ross Manning, students worked
together to create kinetic large scale installations.
The MCA continued its successful partnership with The Smith Family, Mallesons Stephen Jaques and
The University of Sydney to deliver two Bella workshops for youth at risk. The October workshop saw
the 100th student through this pioneering and inspiring program.
Resources
The MCA aims to open up access to the work of exhibiting artists and support teachers and children
in their visits to the Museum. Specially tailored resources were created to cater for both the
schools’ audiences and younger visitors to the galleries. MCA Learning produced comprehensive
downloadable resources on the following exhibitions, Ricky Maynard: Portrait of a Distant Land,
Rising Tide: Film and Video works from the MCA Collection, Making It New: Focus on Contemporary
Australian Art, Fiona Foley: Forbidden, as well as resources for two external projects, C3West and
Craig Walsh Digital Odyssey.
The SKETCH activity journal that connects children directly with contemporary artists through
words and drawings was a great success. Sketch artists are commissioned by MCA Learning to
generate text and graphic activities that relate directly to the works on display. This year, SKETCH
artists included Tom Moore and Noel McKenna.
Public Programs & Informal Learning
In 2009 the MCA scheduled 65 public programs attracting over 13,410 visitors to these programs.
Visitor surveys indicate that 44% of these participants were first time users of MCA public
programs.
More creative strands were incorporated in the program including the popular Vicious Threads
craft workshop, which was sold out four times during the year and Inspired Reading, the MCA book
club. Performative elements were also included: poetry readings in the exhibition Avoiding Myth &
Message; a performance by young actress Katherine Beckett in Ricky Maynard: Portrait of a Distant
Land and a collaboration with Urban Theatre Projects to show excerpts from their work Stories of
Love & Hate in the Fiona Foley: Forbidden. In addition over 30 exhibiting artists spoke at the
Museum during the year including Olafur Eliasson, Fiona Foley and Ricky Maynard.
A highlight of the program was the annual Zine Fair in collaboration with the Sydney Writers'
Festival with over 4,500 visitors. The day saw the Zine Fair in the Foundation Hall and four talks in
A Year in Review
18
2009 Annual Report
the Level 4 Gallery space. 72% of those who responded to questionnaires were in 18-34-age
bracket.
A major project was undertaken in Spring to celebrate the MCA’s 18th birthday. Primavera artists
Michaela Gleave created a snowfield on the MCA front lawn attracting over 5,500 visitors to view
the work and engage with this unique experience on the shores of Sydney Harbour.
The MCA also collaborated with other organizations on a range of artist programs. Rider Spoke by
Blast Theory is an artists’ project produced by the British Council in association with the Sydney
Harbour Foreshore Authority and the MCA. The project involved participants going out into The
Rocks and surrounding areas on bicycles and making recordings of their thoughts and listening to
other contributors’ recordings. A collaboration with artist Alwin Reamillo involved a community
workshop to create paper-maché helicopters which the artist incorporated into his installation as
part of the exhibition Making It New.
Developing Access Tours for the vision and hearing impaired were held during the year in association
with each season. Keith Munro, Curator Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Programs developed a
series of public programs including a National Sorry Day event with Anita Heiss, a performance and
tour in NAIDOC week and a set of panel discussions and performances to coincide with Ricky
Maynard: Portrait of a Distant Land.
Children and families
During 2009, the MCA offered a suite of programs for children and families with opportunities for
this audience to engage with the changing exhibition program. The ever popular Family Art Days ran
during January and May, with 213 people participating. Comprising of Educator-led art-making
stations, family-friendly guided tours and music and storytelling in the galleries, participants were
encouraged to enjoy and discuss the art amongst the whole family.
There were also a variety of school holiday programs offered during 2009, linked to specific artists
and exhibitions, with 155 children participating.
A Year in Review
19
2009 Annual Report
Access
Bella – Art Education for people with Specific Needs
The renowned Bella Program offers a free season of gallery-based sessions and hands-on
workshops addressing issues of access to contemporary art and culture for people with specific
needs including sensory, behavioural and intellectual disabilities, financial, social and geographic
disadvantage. Now in its 17th year, Bella again drew a large audience, with a number of new schools
participating, and 437 students benefitting from this unique experience. The MCA also hosted a
Bella Family Workshop to coincide with International Day of People with Disability.
We were thrilled to welcome Ms Therese Rein as the patron for the Bella program.
Good Vibrations
Part of the Bella Program, Good Vibrations is a multi-sensory artistic environment presented in a
modified vintage caravan. The caravan was created by artist Bruce Odland and interactive designer
and new media artist Michael Luck Schneider specifically for the MCA’s Bella Program for youth with
specific needs. For the public interacting with the artwork, stepping into the caravan is a
transformative experience in two ways – it feels like entering into a futuristic world and it also
enhances the sensory responses of the audience.
In 2009 the caravan toured to bushfire affected regions of Victoria thanks to Deutsche Bank’s
support. MCA staff worked with students and teachers from Miriboo North and Neerim South
primary schools, reaching over 500 students in the Gippsland area.
Youth
To mark Youth Week 2009 the MCA launched the generationext program with a record 400
teenagers in attendance. This unique free youth program, supported by the Balnaves Foundation,
continues to increase in popularity. A total of 1408 young people enjoyed five after-hours
exhibition-linked social events during 2009 (four at the MCA and one offsite). This represents an
increase of 100 attendees at each event across the year.
In 2009 new programming strategies were employed to access new and harder to reach Sydney
audiences. generationext was taken ‘on the road’ to Western Sydney for the first time in
collaboration with the host venue Blacktown Arts Centre.
Social media channels were particularly successful - as a result generationext facebook reached its
target for 2009 by accumulating over 500 friends.
Weekend workshops and forums were developed to cater for 18-26 years, youth audiences. These
included a two day Experimental Drawing Workshop, a two day Zine-making Workshop and a one day
Stencil Art Masterclass.
A Year in Review
20
2009 Annual Report
VISITOR EXPERIENCE
Record visitor numbers presented a clear operational challenge to the front line staff. The quality
of the visitor service experience was acknowledged when the MCA received the 2009 City of Sydney
Business award in recognition of high achievement in the category of Culture, Tourism & Creative
Services. This follows on from the MCA’s win in this category in 2008. The Visitor Service team
(Visitor Service Officers, Volunteer Guides and MCA Store staff) received this award in recognition
of outstanding customer service.
Participation in Education events and services
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
No of participants on
Tours conducted by
Volunteer Guides
4,150
3,737
4,250
3,236
4,245
4,748
6,600
6,632
No of participants in
Education Groups
13,011
14,720
22,354
17,853
25,097
18,987
27,802
19,045
No of attendees at
Public Programs
7,346
9,723
9,528
5,287
5,421
2,775
7,188
15,856
Totals
24,507
28,180
36,132
26,376
34,763
26,510
41,590
41,533
Activity
Numbers of Education Events held:
Activity
Access Programs
(incl. Bella Program)
15
81
80
79
97
124
139
102
Education Group
visits
867
981
1,098
1,101
1,422
1,151
1,632
1,324
Lectures/talks
80
59
72
45
39
79
48
38
Performances
6
7
6
13
9
5
8
13
Practical workshops
7
Special events
8
Teachers Events
3
2
3
6
Teachers
Events/Professional
Development
5
6
13
N/A
4
12
11
8
Family & Youth
Programs
15
10
23
16
25
33
29
29
Totals
986
1,140
1,282
1,260
1,601
1,410
1,880
1,529
NB – Teachers events have now been separated into Practical Workshops and Special
events
A Year in Review
21
2009 Annual Report
Every second year the Biennale of Sydney has had a distorted impact on the MCA participation
figures due to the huge interest from schools associated with the biennale exhibition. In 2009 there
was only a slight drop in attendance figures from the previous biennale year, which attests to the
growing strength of the MCA education programs and their recognition within the educational
sector.
Feedback
this morning, what a wonderful time they
had. I would like to particularly thank the
educators that took us around, their
knowledge and ability to communicate
with our often difficult students.They
were extremely professional and chose
artworks that would relate to our
students. All of the students came away
with a sense of achievement and a lovely
artwork to proudly display at the
school.All of the students are excited by
the idea of returning and some are
planning a visit with their families and
friends. Please pass on our thanks to
those involved, Larissa”
Bella School W orkshop Teacher, via
email 27 October 2009
“Just wanted to let you know that my
daughter Ella had a wonderful day today
at the School Holiday Workshop. She
couldn't stop talking about it when I
picked her up. Well done to the Museum
for the engaging and open-ended
activities and for providing the children
with a healthy lunch!”
Holiday W orkshop Participant, via
email, 16 April 2009
“As one of the stall holders at the Zine
Fair on Sunday I just wanted to thank the
MCA and all of the organisation involved
for making it such a fun day & a busy one
at that. Thanks for everything”
Zine Fair Stallholder,via email 27
May 2009
“I am never disappointed when I go to the
MCA. The event has stayed with me and I
am telling everyone about it. My friends
want to know how I found out about it.
There is so much interest out there for
such events.”
Attendee, Stories of Love and Hate
12 December 2009
“I would just like to thank your team and
the MCA for a very successful morning
with you today.Our students were totally
engaged by the entire experience and
have come back to school motivated and
excited about art.They have also returned
to tell everyone else that didn't make it
A Year in Review
22
2009 Annual Report
SPONSORSHIP & INDIVIDUAL GIVING
Sponsorship
In an extremely challenging economic environment the MCA raised $517,383 in cash sponsorship
during 2009. Whilst this was down from the previous year, it was a major achievement in a very
tough economic climate. Notable successes were Pandora’s major sponsorship of Take your time:
Olafur Eliasson, their first arts sponsorship in Australia; and the extension of Deutsche Bank’s
support to cover the MCA’s tour of Good Vibrations to bush fire affected areas of Victoria.
In a year when cash sponsorships were in decline there was a strong focus on in-kind support. The
MCA obtained new in-kind sponsorships valued at over $740,000 of which over $140,000 had a direct
impact on reducing the bottom line. This is in addition to existing sponsorship in-kind deals which are
valued at $304,000.
Overall, the Sponsorship Department managed 33 corporate sponsors and partners and strives to
create long term partnerships which achieve corporate objectives for both the MCA and the
business. As a result, the MCA was honoured that the sponsorship by Panthers Entertainment
Group of Heads Up, a C3West project was recognised as a National Finalist in the 2009 AbaF
awards.
Donations
2009 was a positive year for the Individual Giving department. The Ambassador Program
gained 42 new Ambassadors, bringing the total to 327, with donations from Ambassadors
raising over $420,000. The MCA also welcomed Tomaso Renaldo Bracco as a new Major
Exhibition Supporter for Take your time: Olafur Eliasson. Membership continued to grow,
raising over $25,000. The MCA received a total of $163,662 from several foundations and
other grants including the Balnaves Foundation, who supported Generationext, the
Carnegie Foundation, the Coca-Cola Foundation and JPMorgan Chase Foundation who all
supported elements of the Bella Program. The MCA’s annual fundraising event, the Bella
Dinner, raised a record-breaking total of $206,724 net and was attended by over 280
Ambassadors and corporate supporters.
A Year in Review
23
2009 Annual Report
Sponsorship, & Fundraising Income & Expenditure by Year
INCOME
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Sponsorship
835,306
710,988
857,283
752,796
754,905
704,531
696,366
517,382
Membership
22,218
26,549
32,396
22,318
24,081
24,959
26,455
25,182
Donations
197,240
308,160
233,884
385,278
440,499
449,302
509,026
446,382
Fundraising
94,322
122,670
130,980
188,825
222,065
226,845
202,632
278,122
Total Income
1,149,086
1,168,367
1,254,543
1,349,217
1,441,550
1,405,637
1,434,479
1,227,068
Expenditure
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Sponsorship
91,462
113,464
141,991
114,618
90,900
133,594
135,466
139,424
Fundraising
89,025
80,438
91,898
66,283
57,363
64,204
86,969
106,286
Membership &
Donations
123,380
137,689
189,288
170,484
140,502
161,579
177,248
185,835
Total Exp.
303,867
331,591
423,177
351,385
288,765
359,377
399,683
431,545
Profit /
(Loss)
845,219
836,776
831,366
997,832
1,152,785
1,046,260
1,034,796
795,523
NB – in-kind sponsorship not included which has had a significant impact on expenditures in 2009
A Year in Review
24
2009 Annual Report
Marketing
The marketing department’s main goals for 2009 were to continue to increase visitors by
raising awareness of the MCA’s education/community programs, and further engage with
its younger audience through social networking sites and online advertising. Research was
conducted to better understand the MCA audience and the strengths and weaknesses of
the MCA branding.
Another major focus for the department was to produce and execute a cohesive
marketing strategy for Take your time: Olafur Eliasson, which could act as a template for
future major MCA paying exhibitions. The strategy was to position the exhibition as the
‘must see’ contemporary art event of the year, leverage the exhibition’s promotional
activities to reinforce the MCA’s key brand messages, educate existing and potential
audiences about Eliasson and the MCA, and to work with local and state tourism partners
to attract local and interstate visitors.
Olafur Eliasson
360° room for all colours 2002
Stainless steel, projection foil, fluorescent lights, wood, control unit
Dimensions variable
Installation view at Musée d' Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, 2002
Private collection
Courtesy the artist and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York
© 2002 Olafur Eliasson
A Year in Review
25
2009 Annual Report
INDIVIDUAL GIVING
The Ambassador Program grew again in 2009 with over 280 Ambassadors supporting the
MCA throughout the year. The annual Bella Dinner raised funds of $207,924 net to go
towards the MCA’s education programs including the Bella Program.
MCA Director’s Circle
Anita Belgiorno-Nettis
Sandra Ferman
Penelope Seidler
Sarah Benjamin
Eva Galambos
Morna Seres
Jane Bridge
Ginny Green
Bernard Shafer
Cathy Cameron
Barry Keldoulis
Vivienne Sharpe
Anne Marie Casey
Anne Knoblanche
Gillian Simon
Anna Connery
Annette Larkin
Peter Steigrad
Susi Curtis
Amanda Love
Peter Thomas
Jane Dawson
Roslyn Oxley
Stewart Wallis
Patrice Derrington
Lisa Paulsen
Jane-Marie Whiston
Linda Duncombe
Liane Rossler
Michael Whitworth
Michele Ferguson
Anna Schwartz
MCA AMBASSADORS
Visionaries
Geoff & Vicki Ainsworth
David & Michelle Coe
Neil & Diane Balnaves
Phillip Keir & Sarah Benjamin
Tomaso Renoldi Bracco
Ann Lewis AO
Andrew & Cathy Cameron
Catriona & Simon Mordant
Carnegie Foundation Trust
The Sidney Myer Fund
Loti Smorgon AO & Victor Smorgon
AC
Malcolm & Lucy Turnbull
Rachel Verghis & Sigurdur
Arngrimsson
Anonymous (1)
Sue Cato
A Year in Review
26
2009 Annual Report
Innovators
Luca Belgiorno-Nettis AM & Anita
Belgiorno-Nettis
Matthew Howison
Odetta Medich
Dr Edward Jackson AM & Mrs
Cynthia Jackson AM
The Penn Foundation
Linda Gregoriou
Michael & Jill Hawker
Andrew & Amanda Love
John B Reid AO & Lynn Rainbow
Reid
Futurists
Danielle & Daniel Besen
Dr Patrice Derrington
Dr Colin Laverty OAM & Mrs
Elizabeth Laverty
Suzanne & Anthony Maple-Brown
Penelope Seidler AM
John Sharpe & Claire Armstrong
Lisa & Egil Paulsen
Dr Gene Sherman & Mr Brian
Sherman AM
Mela Purdie
Victoria Taylor
Reg & Sally Richardson
Peter Vogliotti & Angela McHugh
Susan Rothwell
Stewart Wallis AO & Gwenyth
Wallis
Antoinette Albert
Sally Breen
Susi & Fred Curtis
Richard & Kathy Alcock
Deirdre Brennan & David Spencer
Sally Dan-Cuthbert
Victoria Alexander
Hon Laurie Brereton MP & Justice
Trish Kavanagh
Gordon Darling AC CMG & Marilyn
Darling AC
Jane Bridge
Suzanne Davies
Dr Bruce Caldwell
Rodney & Barbara Davis
Hilary Caldwell
Sandy & Jane Dawson
Robert & Janelle Cann
Susanne de Ferranti
Tim & Anne-Marie Casey
Roderick & Gillian Deane
Nellie Castan
Fran Derwent
Luisa Catanzaro
Dinosaur Designs
Ian Cavit & Giovanna Gromo
Ari & Lisa Droga
Professor Duncan Chappell &
Rhonda Moore
Daniel & Lyndell Droga
Henry Ergas
Ginny & Leslie Green
Catherine Harris AO PSM
Fraser & Victoria Hopkins
Peter Ivany AM & Sharon Ivany
Contemporaries
Steven Alward & Mark Wakely
Philip Amery
Arnold Bloch Leibler
Art and Australia
Lachlan Astle & Neil Matthews
Rosario & Jane Autore
Mark & Jill Awerbuch
John & Jane Ayers
David & Marn Baldock
Melissa & Matthew Banks
Peter Bate & Wendy Foard
Anthony Battaglia & Catie Dyce
Nicole Bayliss
Julian & Anne Beaumont
Candy Bennett
Leo Christie OAM & Marion Borgelt
Susan Colless
Helen Eager & Christopher Hodges
John Fairfax AO
Victor & Chrissy Comino
Anna Connery
Dr Peter Farrell
Ken & Lisa Fehily
John & Loryse Beresford
Joan Connery OAM & Max Connery
OAM
Berg Family Foundation
Debbie Cooper
Teresa Biet
David Corbet
Bambi & Derek Blumberg
Patrick Corrigan AM
Joan Bolton
Lisa Corsi
Camilla Boyd
Peter & Sally Crossing
Roslynne Bracher AM
John Curtis
Louise & Jonathan Fennel
Michele Ferguson
Sandra & Paul Ferman
Susan Field
Leon Fink & Jenny Turpin
David Finlay
Barbara Flynn
Paul & Debra Foulkes
Natalia Bradshaw
A Year in Review
Saadia & Paul Durham
27
2009 Annual Report
Barrie & Wendy Fraser
Doug & Sue Knox
The Orgill Family Foundation
Judy & Jim Friend
Kate & Sarah Knox
Richard & Jan Frolich
Phlyssa Koshland
Richard Paiement & Dr Malcolm
Pike
Patricia Gerahty
Simeon Kronenberg & Adri Valery
Wens
Bradford Gorman & Anthony Ewart
Stephen Grant & Bridget Pirrie
Robert Green & Maria Johnson
Stephen & Sharon Green
Fiona Griffiths
Pamela Griffiths Clark & Gregory
Clark
Julian & Stephanie Grose
Julie & Gary Grossbard
Suzanne Hampel & Fran Clark
Angelo & Despina Hatsatouris
Judi Hausmann
Bruce Hawker
Sally & Sam Herman
Michael & Doris Hobbs
Sandra & Peter Hofbauer
Brendan & Bee Hopkins
Andrew L Horsley
Sir Barry Humphries
Dr John & Mrs Mary Indyk
Diane Ipkendanz
Davina Jackson & Chris Johnson
Gordon Jackson & Sheli Hersch
Guy Jalland
Greg & Kim Jones
John & Susannah Penton
Kylie Kwong
Neil & Samantha Perry
John Landerer CBE AM & Michelle
Landerer
Dr Jonathan Phillips & Ms Irene
Sniatynskyj
Annette Larkin
Greig Pickhaver
Paula Latos-Valier & Biron Valier
Andy & Deirdre Plummer
Dianne Laurance
Andrew & Chloe Podgornik
Julian Lavigne
Diana Polkinghorne
Michael & Alison Lawless
Sam Pratten
Edwina Lehmann
Dr Dick Quan & Mr John McGrath
Christine M Liddy AO & David B
Liddy
Lisa & Brad Rees
Harvey Light
Crispin Rice
Robert & Randi Linnegar
Campbell & Susie Lobb
David Maloney & Erin Flaherty
Manassen Holdings Pty Ltd
Susan Manford
Alexandra Martin
Mary Rossi Travel
Peter & Jan McGovern
Barry Keldoulis
Scot & Fiona Menzies
Pamela Kelly
Dominik Mersch
Russell Kennett & Donna
Bosomworth
Janie Michelle
John Kiley & Eugene Silbert
Alexandra Rose
Sue Rose & Alan Segal
Jill & Gunther Schmidt-Lindner
Anna & Morry Schwartz
Carol Schwartz AM & Alan
Schwartz AM
Greg & Jane Sedgwick
Dr Ian Hill & Morna Seres
Bernard & Anna Shafer
Vivienne Sharpe
Glenn & Jo Shorrock
Gillian Simon & Darren Kindrachuk
Kate Mills
Fiona Sinclair
Jan Minchin
Gary Singer & Geoffrey Smith
Simon Moore
Robert & Vassily Skinner
Fiamma & Rob Morton
Kingsley & Robyn Mundey
Michael King
The Annabel & Rupert Myer Family
Foundation
Suzie Melhop & Darren Knight
Mark & Louise Nelson
Chris & Anne Knoblanche
Dr Clinton Ng
Vivien Knowles
Robbie Nicol
A Year in Review
Kalli & Brian Rolfe
Graeme & Trudy Russell
Scott Marinchek
Fran & Tony Meagher
Keith & Maureen Kerridge
David Robb
Rae Rothfield
Jenny Manton
Roger & Judy Kaye
Lesley Kernaghan
Peter M Reeve & Jaycen N Fletcher
Carolyn Rendle
Kathryn Lim
Matthew McQuade & Michelle
Shepherd
Barbara Kerlen
Richard & Natalie Peake
Christopher Kuan
Erika Jumikis
Angela & David Kent
Michael & Mary Parkinson
Merilyn Sleigh & Raoul De Ferranti
Christopher Snelling & Michael
Baker
Ezekiel Solomon
Judy Soper & James Sullivan
Darren J Spain
James Roland & Becky Sparks
28
2009 Annual Report
Heidi Spratt
Janet & Geoffry Underwood
Virginia Wilson
Tasy & Shari Stathis
Pamela Uther
Merrill & Scott Witt
Phil Staub & Jackie Vidor
Isaac & Susie Wakil
Julia Wokes
Rebecca Stehli
John S Walton AM
Justin & Annette Wright
Peter & Suzanne Steigrad
Sam & Judy Weiss
Vera Yakimenko
Emma & Dominic Stevens
Wheen Family Foundation
Mark Young
Nigel & Penelope Stewart
Kate & Jack Whelan
Carla Zampatti AC
Tony & Josephine Sukkar
Jane-Marie Whiston
Tracy Zietsch
Ursula Sullivan & Joanna Strumpf
Mary Whitton
Brian Zulaikha
Dr Paul Sutherland
Michael Whitworth & Dr Candice
Bruce
Anonymous (5)
Irene Sutton
Georgie & Alastair Taylor
Peter & Maree Thomas
Nick & Miranda Tobias
1 January – 31 December 2009
Ian Wilcox & Mary Kostakidis
Neil & Jill Wilson
Ray Wilson OAM & James Agapitos
OAM
MCA COLLECTION
2009 was a record year for acquisitions to the MCA Collection with a total of 171 new works being
acquired into the MCA Collection. Of these, 140 works were gifts, 139 through the Australian
Government’s Cultural Gift Program.
The MCA gratefully acknowledges the on-going support through funds provided by Simon and
Catriona Mordant, David and Michelle Coe, Andrew and Cathy Cameron, Dr Edward Jackson AM and
Mrs Cynthia Jackson AM, Ken and Lisa Fehily, Julian and Stephanie Grose, Lisa Paulsen and Peter Fay
for the purchase of artworks by Australian contemporary artists in 2009. The MCA is also deeply
grateful to the generosity of art patrons and collectors who have supported the MCA through
donations of significant artworks to the collection in 2009: Ann Lewis AO, Henry Ergas, Michael
Hawker, Wendy Foard and Peter Bate, Lucy Turnbull and artists James Angus, Juan Davila, Robert
MacPherson, David Rosetzky and Khaled Sabsabi.
The gift of 54 works by Ann Lewis AO was a particularly significant body of work with a strong focus
on painting. The Ann Lewis AO collection represents a unique record of Australian art practice over
the past 50 years. As one of Australia’s leading supporters of innovation in contemporary art, Ann
Lewis has played a major role in the Australian and international art scene throughout her long
career. The donation to the MCA includes important paintings and sculptures by 18 Aboriginal
artists including Sally Gabori, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Dorothy Napangardi, Gloria Petyarre and
Turkey Tolsen Tjupurrula, work by leading Australian artists Hany Armanious, Richard Dunn, Rosalie
Gascoigne, Ildiko Kovacs, photographic works by Jon Lewis and Rosemary Laing, and works by
international artists Callum Innes, Robert Rauchenberg and Victor Vasarely.
Henry Ergas’ gift of 60 works comprises for the most part works by younger and emerging artists,
including DVDs by Peter Alwast, Hayden Fowler and Patrick Hartigan, prints by Benjamin Armstrong,
drawings by Fergus Binns and Miles Howard-Wilks, paintings by Jon Campbell, Newell Harry and Nigel
Milsom, 3-D work by Charlie Sofo and Emma White.
A Year in Review
29
2009 Annual Report
Michael Hawker’s gift of 18 works comprises four painting by Louise Hearman, a gouache on canvas
by Adam Cullen, paintings and DVDs by Primavera artist Jess MacNeil, and Susan Norrie’s DVD and
installation ENOLA, exhibited at the MCA during the 2004 Biennale of Sydney.
The MCA’s collection of artworks incorporating light as a significant component grew this year with
a outstanding work by Nicholas Folland, The door was open … (2006), a chandelier with a frozen
block of ice at its core; Matthew Griffin’s Anywhere but here (2007) and Chris Hanrahan’s Keep
falling (2009).
Works selected by the MCA Acquisitions Committee for purchase include Benjamin Armstrong’s wax
and glass sculptural form Old Friends (2004), two sculptures in cast resin by Hany Armanious, a
terracotta work by Linda Marrinon, 3 gouache by Gija artist Rammey Ramsey, Fiona Foley’s DVD Bliss
(2006), DVDs by Dorota Mytych, Charlie Sofo, Grant Stephens, and James Morrison’s intricate
papier-mâché and ink 3-D drawing Colour green (2007), and works by Primavera artists Moya
McKenna, Gemma Smith and Rob McHaffie.
A Year in Review
30
2009 Annual Report
MCA COLLECTION: PURCHASES AND GIFTS
The following is a list of purchases/gifts of works that are now part of the MCA Collection. In 2009,
31 artworks were purchased and 140 artworks were gifted to the MCA.
Gifts of the
artist
Robert
MacPherson
Little Pictures for
the Poor 1983
ink on paper
Robert
MacPherson
I see a can of paint
as a painting
unpainted 1982
photocopy
[installation
consists of
unlimited
photocopy, chair
and 4 litre can of
paint]
James Angus
Maquette for
Manta Ray 2002
polymer clay
David Rosetzky
Foreplay and Floor
mats 1996
VHS tape, medium
density fibreboard,
vinyl and foam
rubber
David Rosetzky
Dumbell 1995
chrome-plated
mild steel, bronze
Juan Davila
Wuthering Heights
II 1990
oil on canvas
Khaled Sabsabi
You 2007
digital video file
Rosemary Laing
Bulletproofglass
#7 2002
type C photograph
Fergus Binns
Bennelong Heard
First Fleet
Through Shell 2006
oil on canvas board
Rosemary Laing
Remembering
Babylon #5 2003
type C photograph
Fergus Binns
Kelly Amour Signed
2006
charcoal on paper
Donated through
the Australian
Government’s
Cultural Gifts
Program by
Henry Ergas,
2009
Fergus Binns
Fires I Will Light...
2006
charcoal on paper
Fergus Binns
The Rip 2006
oil on canvas
Fergus Binns
Charcoal Flag 2006
charcoal on paper
Peter Alwast
The Night Sky 2006
Single channel DVD
Fergus Binns
Charcoal Portrait
Of A Grass Tree...
2006
charcoal on paper
Ben Armstrong
Two 2005-2006
monotype on
paper
Fergus Binns
Plant 2007
charcoal on paper
Ben Armstrong
Untitled II 20042006
monotype on
paper
Fergus Binns
Kangaroo Type
Animal Hearing
First Fleet
Through Shell 2007
charcoal on paper
Ben Armstrong
Spent 2006
monotype on
paper
Mitch Cairns
We are strong, so
strong 2006
enamel on canvas,
ceramic
Ben Armstrong
Untitled I 2006
monotype on
paper
Donated through
the Australian
Government’s
Cultural Gifts
Program by Lucy
Turnbull
Ben Armstrong
Untitled 20042006
monotype on
paper
David Jolly
Leaving Oslo 2003
oil painted onto
Perspex, silicone
rubber frame
Ben Armstrong
Contents 20052006
monotype on
paper
A Year in Review
Fergus Binns
BBQ With Left
Over Sausage
2006
charcoal on paper
David Jolly
Marooned (car in
landscape) 2003
oil painted onto
Perspex, silicone
rubber frame
Elaine
Campaner
border security,
from the series
lapped 2005
photograph
Elaine
Campaner
the reef, from the
series lapped 2005
photograph
31
Elaine
Campaner
christmas island,
from the series
lapped 2005
photograph
Elaine
Campaner
100% Australian,
from the series
lapped 2005
photograph
Jon Campbell
'Setlist' (John
Lennon) 2000
acrylic paint and
permanent marker
on paper, framed
Jon Campbell
'Yeah' 2001
acrylic paint,
enamel paint,
permanent market
on paper, framed
Jon Campbell
'Maaate' 2001
acrylic paint,
coloured pencil on
paper, framed
Jon Campbell
'She'll be right'
2001
acrylic paint,
coloured pencil,
enamel marker on
paper, framed
Jon Campbell
'It's a world...'
2003
acrylic paint,
permanent marker
on paper, framed
Hayden Fowler
White Australia
2006
DVD
Hayden Fowler
Goat Odyssey 2006
DVD
Matthew Griffin
Aske 2007
mixed media
sculpture
2009 Annual Report
Matthew Griffin
Anywhere but here
2007
mixed media
sculpture
Chris Hanrahan
Keep Falling
wooden crate,
internal lighting
Newell Harry
DUM/MUM/MAD/D
AD 2006
gesso, oil pastel on
paper
Patrick
Hartigan
15 Pieces on the
Wait and Weight
2007
collage, ink and
letraset on paper
Patrick
Hartigan
Dog
DVD (transferred
from Super8)
Patrick
Hartigan
Horse
DVD (transferred
from Super8)
Patrick
Hartigan
Museum Piece
DVD (transferred
from Super8)
Matthew
Hopkins
10 Corporate
Portraits of IT
2007
acrylic on board
Miles HowardWilks
Chocolate Land
DVD
digital animation
Miles HowardWilks
Chocolate Land
251 2006
pencil on paper,
framed
Emma White
Negative
reinforcement 2
2008
polymer clay
Emma White
Negative
reinforcement 3
2007
polymer clay, pins
Lou Hubbard
DEPORTMENT
2007
DVD
Lou Hubbard
HACK 2006
DVD
Lou Hubbard
TURTLE 2006
DVD
Lou Hubbard
Pinch Stick 2005
metal, plastic,
wood, styrofoam,
polyurethane
Richard Lewer
In between 2007
DVD
Richard Lewer
Skill, Discipline,
Training 2007
DVD, digital
animation
Emma White
Untitled (useless,
powerful) I 2008
polymer clay
Jess MacNeil
Wake
(Windermere) 2007
DVD
Emma White
Untitled (useless,
powerful) II 2008
polymer clay
Susan Norrie
Enola 2004
DVD, chairs
James Angus
Mountains, Valleys,
Caves 2005
bronze, acrylic
Charles Sofo
watermelon 2006
watermelon seeds,
wood panel
Adam Cullen
Pirate 2003-2004
synthtic polymer
paint on canvas
Miles HowardWilks
Chocolate Land
237 2006
pencil on paper,
framed
John Spiteri
Reformation 2006
spray enamel,
acrylic on glass,
wood and nail
fixtures
Shaun Gladwell
Multiple Desent
(Taranaki) 2004
DVD
Miles HowardWilks
Chocolate Land
241 2006
pencil on paper,
framed
John Spiteri
Reformation 2006
pencil, spray
enamel, paper on
cardboard
Miles HowardWilks
Chocolate Land
244 2006
pencil on paper,
framed
A Year in Review
Louise Hearman
Untitled #986
2003
oil on masonite
Louise Hearman
Untitled #1106
2004
oil on masonite
Emma White
Negative
reinforcement 1
2008
polymer clay, mdf
shelf
Jess MacNeil
Agnes 2005
oil on graphite on
acrylic colour
canvas
Jess MacNeil
Opera House
Steps, March 2006
DVD
Donated through
the Australian
Government’s
Cultural Gifts
Program by
Michael Hawker
Nigel Milsom
Untitled (it's kept
together by
moving all around)
2006
oil on canvas
Emily
Kngwarreye
Awelye 1995
acrylic on
polyester
Emma White
Tautology 1,2,3
(after Morandi)
Tautological
recepticals (after
Morandi) 2007
C-type
photographs,
polymer clay
Simon Yates
Brain Scapes 2006
paper, cardboard,
wire, paint and pen
Silvana
Mangano,
Gabriela
Mangano
Absence of
evidence 2008
DVD
Louise Hearman
Untitled #1118
2005
oil on masonite
Patricia
Piccinini
Plasmid region
2003
DVD
Nusra Qureshi
Empire, and
Outdated Luxury 11 2006
gouache, ink, gold
and graphite on
paper (framed)
Donated through
the Australian
Government’s
Cultural Gifts
Program by Ann
Lewis AO
Robert Ambrose
Cole
Body paint 1991
synthetic polymer
paint on paper,
framed
Hany Armanious
Untitled Snake Oil
1998
synthetic polmer
resin ('hotmelt'),
bound pigment,
glass
Louise Hearman
Untitled #1110
2005
oil on masonite
32
2009 Annual Report
Curly
Bardkadubbu
Rainbow serpent
of the Dreamtime
2003
ochres and
fixatives on bark
Richard Dunn
1919 1984
acrylic on canvas
Richard Dunn
Untitled (the wild)
1999
acrylic on canvas
Mikala Dwyer
Wall sculpture
2002
plastic, resin,
aluminium, fabric,
glitter and spray
paint
Sally Gabori
Makarrki 2008
synthetic polymer
paint on linen
Rosalie
Gascoigne
Leaning piece 1974
acrylic on wood
with rope binding
Rosalie
Gascoigne
Winter morning
1976
painted wood and
printed cardboard
assemblage
Ann Hamilton,
David Ireland
Untitled (AHDI)
1994
tin, hair and
concrete enclosed
in metal box
Callum Innes
Exposed painting
lamp black on
violet 2004
oil on canvas
Callum Innes
Exposed painting
charcoal black
deep violet 2004
oil on canvas
Callum Innes
Exposed painting
pewter
oil on linen
Emily
Kngwarreye
Untitled 1991
acrylic on linen
A Year in Review
Emily
Kngwarreye
Untitled (body
painting series)
1996
acrylic on canvas
Jon Lewis
Aussie Soldier in
Ainaro Hospital
Ruins From the
series 'East Timor'
2000
gelatin silver
photograph
Ildiko Kovacs
Olive 3 2002
oil on card
mounted on
canvas
Jon Lewis
Mataranka, NT
1987
gelatin silver
photograph
Ildiko Kovacs
T.T. 2004
oil on card
mounted on
masonite
Jon Lewis
Roper River, NT
1987
gelatin silver
photograph
Ildiko Kovacs
Serpentine 1999
oil on plywood
Jon Lewis
Top Springs, NT
1987
gelatin silver
photograph
Ildiko Kovacs
Lulu 1998
oil on plywood
Rosemary Laing
groundspeed (Red
Piazza) #3 2001
type C
photograph,
framed
Jon Lewis
Little Ross at
Oenpelli Spring
From the series
'Outback' 1987
gelatin silver
photograph
Rosemary Laing
Airport #3
type C photograph,
framed
Jon Lewis
Joe Tapp Kilarney
Station, NT 1987
gelatin silver
photograph
Jon Lewis
Arawa Swimming
Hole From the
series
'Bougainville'
2002-2003
gelatin silver
photograph
Jon Lewis
Bondi Cherub
From the series
'Bondi' 1988
gelatin silver
photograph
Jon Lewis
Octopussy Man
From the series
'Coming Back'
1980s
gelatin silver
photograph
Marrirra
Marawili
Dhakandjali
ochres and fixative
on bark
George
Milwulurrurr
Namangwarri crocodile with mimi
spirit figures Circa
1985
ochres and fixative
on bark
Jon Lewis
Man at ATM, Paris
1989
gelatin silver
photograph
Jon Lewis
Man Ray is alive
and well in Paris
1989
gelatin silver
photograph
33
Bobby
Barrdjaray
Nganjmirra
Barramundi, snake
and two broken
head fish Circa
1970
ochres and fixative
on bark
Jimmy
Ngalakurn
Untitled 2003
ochres and fixative
on stringbark
Robert Owen
Untitled XII From
the series Origami
1992
acrylic on canvas
Gloria Petyarre
Leaves in the wind
1999
synthetic polymer
paint on canvas
Robert
Rauschenberg
Tampa Clay Piece 4
1972
ceramic ,
silkscreen, soil
patina
Neil Roberts
3 works from the
series The Great
Ultimates 1994
found metal
assemblage
Neil Roberts
92 bounces
30.11.95 from the
series Bradman's
tank 1995
boot polish on
paper
Lola Ryan
Harbour Bridge
fabric, glitter,
cardboard, glue,
shells
Lola Ryan
Sailing boat
fabric, glitter,
cardboard, glue,
shells
Rosella Namok
Para Way, other
way 2001
synthetic polymer
paint on canvas
Ricky Swallow
iMac with cloud
2001
watercolour on
paper, framed
Dorothy
Napangardi
Sandhills 2004
synthetic polymer
paint on linen
Walala
Tjapaltjarri
Tingari cycle #7269
acrylic on canvas
2009 Annual Report
Turkey Tolson
Tjupurrula
Untitled (spear
straightening)
Circa 1990
synthetic polymer
paint on linen
Victor Vasarely
Untitled 1970,
Circa 1960-1969
anodised
aluminium, paint,
and synthetic
polymer resin
Wukun Wanambi
Gudultja
earth pigments on
hollowed trunk
Louise Weaver,
Martin King
Liberty or love
print
Philosopher's
Stone 2009
cast polyurethane,
pigment, cast 24
carat gold
Hany Armanious
Empathy Chart
2009
cast polyurethane,
pigment
Timothy
Wulanjbirr
Untitled (hollow log
coffin) 2006
stringybark with
ochre pigment and
PVC fixative
Gemma Smith
Adaptable
(mint/golden
green) 2008
sythetic polymer
paint on aircraft
plywood, polyester
Anne Zahalka
The English
Garden, Yarralumla
Nursery, Weston
Park 2001
Type C
photograph,
foamcore
Purchased with
funds provided
by the Coe and
Mordant
families; Ken and
Lisa Fehily;
Julian and
Stephane Grose;
and Lisa Paulsen
and Peter Fay
Donated through
the Australian
Government’s
Cultural Gifts
Program Wendy
Foard and Peter
Bate
Nicholas Folland
The door was
open... 2006
chandelier, freezer
unit, ceiling rose
Purchased with
funds donated
by Andrew and
Cathy Cameron
Hany Armanious
A Year in Review
Aleks Danko
IT’S SUCH A THIN
LINE BETWEEN
CLEVER AND
STUPID 2008-2009
engraved mirror
Rammey Ramsey
Untitled 2008
gouache on
crescent board
Aleks Danko
SONGS OF
AUSTRALIA
VOLUME 18: A NEW
VALLEY OF TEARS
2008
laser printed spiral
bound book
Moya McKenna
Dialogue at the
wall 2009
oil on linen
Judith Wright
Projections for
Eliza VI 1999
transparency in
lightbox
Untitled 2008
gouache on
crescent board
Aleks Danko
A JOYCEAN LAUGH
2008-2009
engraved plastic
Purchased with
assistance of Dr
Edward and Mrs
Cynthia Jackson
Gemma Smith
Adaptable (dark
peach/red oxide)
2008
sythetic polymer
paint on aircraft
plywood, polyester
POETIC SUICIDE
2009
engraved plastic
Fiona Foley,
Troy Melville
Bliss 2006
DVD
David Lawrey,
Jaki Middleton
You're not thinking
fourth
dimensionally 2009
felt, timber, model
train, polyurethane
foam, wire, glass,
cardboard, LEDs,
gatorboard,
electronics
Charles Sofo
Birds 2008
DVD
Grant Stevens
The Wandering
2009
digital video
Linda Marrinon
Edwardian Lady
2008
tinted and painted
plaster
Ben Armstrong
Old Friends 2004
blown-glass,
pigment, plaster,
wax
Patrick
Hartigan
My Neighbour is a
Painter 2006-2007
video, found
objects and
printed pages
Purchased with
funds provided
by the Coe and
Mordant families
Dorota Mytych
Mutatis Mutandis
2005
DVD
Aleks Danko
Chatter 20082009
engraved plastic
Aleks Danko
Rammey Ramsey
Untitled 2008
gouache on
crescent board
James Morrison
Colour green 2007
paper mache and
ink
Rob McHaffie
Surrender 2009
oil on linen
Charles Sofo
Balls 2009
paper mache, pva
glue, wood trestle
table
Ben Armstrong
Pink and Black
[Gertrude Street
Edition] 2009
blown glass, wax
Peter Kennedy
The Gallery A Years
1970-2009
DVD
Michelle Nikou
Hanging glow bulb
2009
resin, pigment
Arlo Mountford
The Folly 20082009
3 video channel, 4
audio channel
digital animation,
framed print
Badger Bates
Emu Sky 2008
linocut print
Badger Bates
Iron Pole Bend,
Wilcannia 2007
linocut print
Badger Bates
Mission Mob and
Bend Mob 1950s
2009
linocut print
Rammey Ramsey
34
2009 Annual Report
OUTWARD LOANS STARTING OR ENDING IN 2009
The following lists outward loans from the MCA Collection and the Power Collection
B orrower:
Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery
Loan Dates:
11 Jan 2009 - 21 May 2009
Exhibition:
Imants Tillers: The Long
Poem
Artwork/s
Imants Tillers; White
Aborigines
Borrower:
Newcastle Region Art
Gallery
Loan Dates:
12 Mar 2009 - 19 Aug 2009
Exhibition:
Gallery A, Sydney
Artwork/s
Tim Johnson; Photographs 1
Tim Johnson; Sketchbook
(Windsor & Newton brand)
with layout drawings
Borrower:
University of Queensland
Art Museum, UQ Art
Museum
Loan Dates:
01 Apr 2009 - 15 Dec 2009
Exhibition:
Quilty Live!
Artwork/s
Ben Quilty; Van Rorschach
Borrower:
University of Sydney
Loan Dates:
01 May 2009 - 19 Aug 2009
Exhibition:
Poesia Visiva: Italian
Concrete & Visual Poetry of
the 1960s & 1970s
Artwork/s
A Year in Review
Giulio Paolini; Incipit
Borrower:
Heide Museum of Modern
Art
Loan Dates:
15 Jul 2009 - 08 Dec 2009
Exhibition:
Kathy Temin
Artwork/s
Kathy Temin; Corner green
and brown problem
Borrower:
Lake Macquarie City Art
Gallery
Loan Dates:
21 Jul 2009 - 11 Nov 2009
Exhibition:
Family Guy
Artwork/s
Vernon Ah Kee; Mick Miller
(Pop) from fantasies of the
good
Vernon Ah Kee; Eddie Ah
Kee from fantasies of the
good
Borrower:
Institute of Modern Art,
IMA
Loan Dates:
10 Oct 2009 - 30 Aug 2010
Exhibition:
Mirror Mirror
Artwork/s
Julio Le Parc; Continuel
mobile (Continual mobile)
Michelangelo Pistoletto; Lo
Specchio (The mirror)
Shusaku Arakawa; Critical
mistake
Hugo Demarco;
Métamorphose
(Metamorphosis)
35
Borrower:
Heide Museum of Modern
Art
Loan Dates:
02 Nov 2009 - 30 Apr 2010
Exhibition:
Cubism and Australian Art
Artwork/s
John Power; Seaside still
life
John Power; (Promenade)
John Power; (Still life with
toothbrush)
John Power; Danseurs à
l'accordéon (Dancers with
an accordion)
John Power; Paysage
(Landscape)
John Power; (Side A:
Diagram for "Paysage";
Side B: 2 sketches of
seated figures)
John Power; (Side 1: Five
studies Side 2: Study of
man with pipe)
John Power; (design of
circles, dots and dashes on
a grid)
John Power; (dissected
circle)
Borrower:
Macleay Museum
Loan Dates:
09 Nov 2009 - 30 May 2010
Exhibition:
Makarr-gama: Aboriginal
collecitons from a Yolngu
Perspective
Artwork/s
Rosie Rodji; Handmade rope
2009 Annual Report
Norman Mangawila; Burala
ga giny'giny (Diver-duck and
catfish eel)
David Daymirringu Malangi;
Ngartili (Black cockatoo
feather fan)
Fred Nganganharrilil; Burala
(Diverduck)
David Daymirringu Malangi;
Buwarta (Australian
bustard)
Tony Yuwati; Wurramu spirit
carving with guwarrtji
(Hawksbill turtle motif)
Tony Yuwati; Wurramu
Spirit Being painted with
python design
Borrower:
Port Macquarie-Hastings
Regional Art Gallery
Loan Dates:
10 Nov 2009 - 17 Feb 2010
Exhibition:
Artwork/s
Kate Murphy; Prayers of a
Mother
Borrower:
FJMT
Loan Dates:
19 Nov 2009 - 19 Nov 2010
Exhibition:
Office display
Artwork/s
Richard Dunn; 100 blossoms
(five prisons no 1)
Richard Dunn; 100 blossoms
(five prisons no 2)
Richard Dunn; 100 blossoms
(five prisons no 3)
Yukultji Napangati; Designs
Associated with the Site of
Yunala
Jon Campbell; 'She'll be
right'
A Year in Review
Jon Campbell; 'Maaate'
Jon Campbell; 'She'll be
right'
Borrower:
Hazelhurst Regional Art
Gallery
Loan Dates:
20 Nov 2009 - 20 Feb 2010
Exhibition:
Wax On: from Cronulla to
Palm Beach and Beyond
Artwork/s
Fiona Lowry; lost to nothing
Borrower:
Penrith Regional Gallery &
the Lewers Bequest
Loan Dates:
16 Dec 2009 - 25 Mar 2010
Exhibition:
Marella: The Hidden Mission
Artwork/s
Badger Bates; Emu Sky
Badger Bates; Iron Pole
Bend, Wilcannia
Badger Bates; Mission Mob
and Bend Mob 1950s
Borrower:
Ms Virginia Judge
Loan Dates:
01 Mar 2009 - 01 Mar 2010
Exhibition:
Office display
Artwork/s
Rosemary Laing; Brumby
mound #6
David Larwill; River bend,
Southern Tablelands
Tim Maguire; Temple of
Flora
Kenneth Noland; Shadow
line
Lynne Roberts-Goodwin;
azure saqr #2
36
Lynne Roberts-Goodwin;
Kaleef and Sheikhs' Saqr
George Parkin, Rose Farrell;
Cause for Consternation,
Act Six
George Parkin, Rose Farrell;
Unforeseen Circumstances,
Act Two
George Parkin, Rose Farrell;
After the Fall, Act One
Tracey Moffatt; Adventure
Series #6
Borrower:
Deutsche Bank
Loan Dates:
17 Aug 2009 - 15 Dec 2009
Exhibition:
Office display
Artwork/s
David Noonan; Owl
David Noonan; Untitled
Shaun Gladwell; Portrait of
Michael Dransfield
Borrower:
Vice Chancellor's Office,
University of Sydney
Loan Dates:
17 Sep 2009 - 17 Sep 2012
Exhibition:
Office display
Artwork/s
John Power; (Self portrait)
Borrower:
The Power Institute
(University of Sydney)
Loan Dates:
17 Sep 2009 - 17 Sep 2011
Exhibition:
Office display
Artwork/s
John Power; Nature Morte
(Fleurs) (Still life (Flowers))
John Power; New Quay
2009 Annual Report
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Overview
The MCA’s financial performance in 2009 demonstrates an outstanding response to what
was a world-wide phenomenon; the Global Financial Crisis. As stated in the 2008 report,
the surplus achieved in 2008 placed the MCA in a strong position to weather the downturn
of the global economy. Budgets were constantly revised and an original forecast of a
deficit of $796K was reduced to a deficit of just $100K.
As expected all of the MCA’s variable income streams were affected by the downturn with
the major impact being felt in Venue Sales which was down $593K. Sponsorship was down
$219K, MCA store $67K, Exhibitions income $73K, funding from government sources $198K.
Overall income was reduced by $1.1M comparison to 2008 income.
This reduction in income was offset by savings in expenditure, primarily Exhibitions &
Collection Mgt $284K, Venue Sales $58K, MCA Store $63K, Admin & Building costs $53K,
and Marketing & Public Relations $141K. Overall expenditure was reduced by $604K
comparison to 2008 expenditure.
Whilst restricting expenditure was necessary to combat such an extreme economic
climate, it is not a viable ongoing option for the long term sustainability of the MCA to
maintain the reputation as a national contemporary arts institution with global networks.
A Year in Review
37
2009 Annual Report