Art Gallery to re-open next week

Newcastle Art Gallery will re-open Tuesday following the NSW Premier’s announcement that cultural institutions can re-open from 1 June amid easing COVID-19 restrictions.

The Gallery will re-open to visitors with separate, two-hour daily sessions from Tuesday 2 June - 10am to noon and 2pm to 4pm.

After first booking their attendance online, up to 40 people per session will be able to view HOMEWARD BOUND: the art and life of Tom Gleghorn and REPEATER: from the collection, an exhibition exploring repetition drawn from the Gallery’s collection.

Visitor numbers will be monitored through a ticketing system and extra cleaning and touch-free hand sanitisers will be provided as part of our focus on keeping our guests and staff safe. Signage and floor decal markers will help ensure social distancing.

“We are delighted to re-open Newcastle Art Gallery in a way that’s safe to the public,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.

“With regional tourism permitted from 1 June we’re looking forward to safely welcoming visitors back to our Gallery while giving some of the 1,000 people who have viewed our current exhibition online the chance to see Tom Gleghorn’s works of art in person.

“Thanks to our staff who over the past two months have delivered a range of quality online programs, such as virtual exhibition tours, a collection recreation challenge, weekly Art Cart activities, Youth Week programming as well as a collaborative online exhibition with regional Galleries across NSW.”

While public programs remain suspended, the Gallery will continue to share the collection and digital experiences via its website and social media.

Newcastle Museum remains temporarily closed to the public while a plan for its safe re-opening, mindful of the facility’s interactive attractions, is developed.