There’s a new director at the helm of the Wagga Art Gallery and she is determined to do everything in her power to help grow the city’s up-and-coming arts scene.
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Originally from a town near Albury, Caroline Geraghty returns to the Riverina with upwards of 10 years’ experience working in major metropolitan galleries, but said regional centres like Wagga are where the most exciting artistic movements are now happening.
“Regional galleries are really where it’s happening – there’s been a lot of change, there’s been a lot of funding and investment in the past few years, and I think there’s been a big revival,” Ms Geraghty said.
“There’s a lot of people moving back here from Sydney and a lot of people who have gone out and worked overseas and have seen what’s happening in the world, and I think the great thing is that all of that can be brought back.”
She’s only been in her new role for a week, but Ms Geraghty already has some big goals – atop her to-do list is building a larger collection of art, attracting more donors, and diversifying the types of art and experiences the gallery offers.
“I want us to see how we can diversify the gallery and how we can reach different parts of the community, and that could be through showcasing different types of artistic practice,” she said.
“If we can have our own unique kinds of programming, hopefully we’ll be able to draw people here to the region.”
Ms Geraghty’s arrival also comes with the departure of former director Stephen Payne, who has stepped down after ten extremely successful years at the gallery.
Wagga City Council’s community director Janice Summerhayes honoured Mr Payne for laying the very solid foundation on which Ms Geraghty will now be able to build.
“Stephen, in his tenure here, has contributed extraordinary amounts to the cultural fabric of this community,” Ms Summerhayes said.
“Not only did Stephen support local arts and understand its importance in regional areas, but he also secured the very important presence of touring and international arts, as well.”
There are many exhibitions you can visit right now at the Wagga Art Gallery, including Soft Core and a collection of CSU photography graduates’ work.
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