Rocky Gallery invests in new gear to preserve works on paper

Preparing and moving Rockhampton’s massive art collection is a lot more complicated than finding a mate with a ute and throwing everything in the back on a Saturday morning in exchange for a slab and some pizza.

Having a nationally-significant collection means each item needs special care and attention to make sure it not only survives the move, but is in top notch condition for future generations to enjoy.

Preservation Australia conservator Tegan Anthes demonstrating a solander box. Image courtesy Rockhampton Regional Council;

The Rockhampton Art Gallery won Community Heritage Grant from the National Library of Australia to buy 22 solander boxes, which will enable the Gallery to re-house approximately 330 artworks from the Works on Paper collection to the best industry standards, as they get ready to move into their new home at the Rockhampton Museum of Art in 2021.

The solander boxes have been built by small Aussie company Artifact Conservation.

Stored in sealed solander boxes, the artwork will be safe from dust, light, temperature fluctioation, and any jostling as they’re moved to their new digs.

Conservation housing for the Gallery’s Works on Paper collection has been a result of Rockhampton Art Gallery’s 2016 Significance Assessment, the 2018 public announcement of the new Rockhampton Art Gallery, and the performance of a 2019 Preservation Needs Assessment.

Rockhampton Regional Council Community Services Portfolio Spokesperson Councillor Drew Wickerson thanked the National Library of Australia for the grant which enabled the purchase of the boxes.

“The 2019 Preservation Needs Assessment highlighted what we needed to do to ensure the care of Rockhampton Art Gallery's nationally significant collection. Thanks to the National Library of Australia Community Heritage Grant, we have been able to source these solander boxes which is a step in ensuring the protection and care of the collection, not only in permanent storage, but also in preparing it for transport to the new Rockhampton Museum of Art in 2021,” he said.