About IMA
Brisbane's First Gallery Of Modern Art
Founded in 1975, we are one of Australia’s first contemporary art spaces. We run a programme of exhibitions and events featuring local, national and international artists; emerging and established artists. Our programme takes in aspects of the moving image, sound art and new music. We also publish. We receive major funding from Arts Queensland and the Australia Council and are a member of Australia's Contemporary Art Organisations network (CAOS).President
Our President is Richard Fidler, a presenter on ABC Radio Brisbane and former presenter of the television culture show Vulture. Fidler began his career in television with anarchic comedy group the Doug Anthony Allstars (DAAS), with whom he performed on such seminal shows as The Big Gig and DAAS Kapital. In 1997 and 1998, he wrote and presented Race Around The World.
Fidler also works in digital media. He won an AIMIA award for his work on Real Wild Child, an interactive history of Australian rock'n'roll.
... And Board
Peter Alwast, Tom Burke, Gary Carsley, Timothy Hill, Crow Hirst, John Kotzas (Vice President), Andrew McNamara, Kim Machan, Douglas Quayle, Eliza Tee, Richard Martin, Dirk Yates, Jay Younger and Ian Were.
Director
Robert Leonard joined the IMA in September 2005. He came from New Zealand where he worked as a curator at Wellington's National Art Gallery, New Plymouth's Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, Dunedin Public Art Gallery and Auckland Art Gallery, and from 1997 to 2002 directed Auckland’s Artspace. In 1992 he curated Headlands: Thinking Through New Zealand Art for Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art. In 2005 he curated Mixed-Up Childhood for Auckland Art Gallery, which included Louise Bourgeois, Robert Gober, Mike Kelley, Mary Kelly, Henry Darger, Christian Boltanski, Grayson Perry, Sally Mann and Jake and Dinos Chapman. He curated New Zealand representation for the Asia-Pacific Triennial in 1999, Arte Guarene in Turin in 2000, the Sao Paulo Bienial in 2002, and the Venice Biennale in 2003.
Asked about his approach to programming, he said: 'I want to balance my love of detailed exhibition making (developed in my museum work) with coal-face responsiveness, high-turnover and direct collaboration with artists (from my time at Artspace). I am interested in the radical relativism of contemporary art, the fact everything is up for grabs, but also understand that all new moves are always read against a tradition, a canon, and will transform or succumb to it. I appreciate art that stands the test of time, but I am equally into art that is right here, right now. A programme needs to be not only full of good art but addressed to its context: responsive. It has to feed the scene.'
... And Staff
Vanessa McRae, Exhibitions Manager
Della Churchill, Business Partnerships
Katrina Stubbs, Publications Designer
Anna Zammit, Administrative Assistant
Bree Jackson, Exhibitions Assistant
Jewel Mackenzie, Bookkeeper
Ben Wilson, Journal of Art Editorial Assistant
... And Advisors
Lawrence English, Sound Art
... And Volunteers
Michaela Banks, Robin Browne, Sarah Byrne, Elisa Carmichael, Danielle Clej, Chloe Cogle, Tracey Cranitch, Alison Ellacott, Karen Gibbs, Yam Hoe-Chee, Manille Joy Gadian, Melinda Gagen, Jack Murphy, Jessica O'Farrell, Melinda O’Neill, Peta Rake, Natalie Rosa, Heidi Stevens and Melita Yuen.
Residencies
We organise at least three artist residencies each year: an international, a national and a regional residency.
Proposals
Our programme is drafted 12 to 18 months in advance in order to meet the deadlines for our funding applications. The programme is curatorially driven: the director invites artists and curators to make shows. We do remain open to proposals. There are no deadlines, set procedures, forms or criteria. We do not return unsolicited material and only respond if we wish to proceed. Gallery plans.
Appointments With Artists
Many artists seek appointments with the director. He meets with artists in order to further the development of the programme. He does not meet to offer general feedback on work or professional advice, which can be sought from Artworkers. The director only writes references for artists and curators he has worked with.
Education and Group Visits
We provide a range of education services for secondary schools, universities and art schools. The director and staff are always happy to talk about current exhibitions and the organisation. We are well equipped to receive groups, but it's good to give us a few days notice. Book here. The Director also has a powerpoint presentation on the IMA and its programme and will travel within Brisbane to present it to interested groups.
Art Teachers Day
Every November we collaborate with the Education Department to organise Art Teachers Day, a get together for Queensland secondary school art teachers. It's a valuable opportunity to hear artists and gallerists speak on their work and to compare notes with colleagues. The date has yet to be announced. Contact Anna.
Bookstore
We sell our publications and the latest national and international art, design and lifestyle magazines. A flat fee of $5 for postage within Australia and $10 for overseas applies to all orders. We accept major credit cards. We are about to organise on-line ordering for our publications, but until then to order: Contact Anna.
Publications Exchange
We are a prolific publisher and love swaping our publications with other contemporary art organisations: museums, artspaces, dealer galleries and magazines. Interested in exchanging publications? Contact Anna.
Volunteers
We depend on many forms of community support. We are especially grateful to our volunteer interns who assist with administration and gallery-minding. Our team includes regular and casual volunteers. For those wishing to pursue a career in art galleries, we offer valuable entry-level experience. Contact Anna.
Membership
Becoming a member is the most direct way of supporting us and keeping in touch with what’s happening. Members are invited to all exhibitions and events and to our exclusive Annual Members Cocktail Party. They enjoy a discount at our bookshop and at key art suppliers, entertainment and retail outlets around Brisbane. Members also have the opportunity to get involved politically, to vote for board members and to stand for the board at the AGM. $50 individuals, $75 families, $150 premium and $500 friend.
Sponsorship
We offer companies great brand exposure. Interested?
Venue Hire
We hire out the gallery space for functions, parties, product launches, fashion shows, weddings and corporate entertaining. It's a beautiful well-appointed venue, with over 900 square metres of floor space plus an external courtyard. Located at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts in Brisbane’s trendy Fortitude Valley, we are within walking distance of the CBD, Fortitude Valley and James Street, with convenient bus and train access and nearby carparking buildings. We can accommodate up to 500 guests and our spaces can be sectioned off to accommodate smaller groups. Our competitive rates are based on the number of guests, the space required and the timing and duration of the hire. We offer a 15% discount on venue hire if our leading sponsor Caxton St. Catering is used to cater for the event. All hires must be accommodated within our exhibition programme. Corporate members receive one free venue hire per year. Gallery plans. Contact Anna.