Free Art Life Service

Last week we were asked if it were true that the Art Gallery of NSW was closing down the Level 2 Contemporary Projects space after the end of the current James Angus truck installation. We promised we would ask someone who knew and sent off an email to AGNSW über-publicist Jan Batten. Unfortunately, her reply arrived too late for last week’s update. At the same time Tony Schwensen forwarded on an email reply he had received from Tony Bond and Wayne Tunnicliffe which more or less said the same thing, but we thank everyone for being so diligent.

Here is Jan Batten’s reply which we offer as a free service to our readers:

“The Gallery is committed to continuing the Level 2 Contemporary Projects program. At this stage, due to the uncertainty of funding, for the first half of 2006 we will be running a reduced program. Our confirmed Level 2 Project exhibitions are Cerkez & Fusinato (5 Feb to 20 March) and Green & Brown, Farrell & Parkin (7 May to 19 June). Mounting of exhibitions is dependent on us securing on-going funding, and we are in discussion with the sponsor who had generously supported the program. We are also actively investigating alternate funding options.

”Level 2 Projects are one aspect of the Gallery’s contemporary art program. Within the next 6 months, and outside Level 2 Projects, we have the inaugural Anne Landa Exhibition and Award for moving image and new media work (Van Sowerwine, David Rosetzky, Peter Hennessey, Guy Benfield, Craig Walsh and Shaun Gladwell) (2 December to 23 January); a survey of Robert Owens‘ work over the past decade (16 October to 14 November); the major Bill Henson survey exhibition (8 January to 3 April), and contemporary Aboriginal art practice will be represented in the major Crossing Country – the alchemy of western Arnhem Land Art (25 September to 12 December). Best wishes, Jan.”