The 120 year-old Gunnery warehouse at Woolloomooloo is re-opening as an internationally significant contemporary art and cultural space that will support emerging and established artists.
Following an extensive transformation, the former warehouse and naval facility has been given new life and will continue to be the home of Artspace, one of the leading institutions for the production and presentation of contemporary art in the Asia-Pacific.
The Gunnery features expanded gallery spaces over 3 floors, 10 artist studios, a 250m2 multi-purpose space, an accessible archive, offices and new facilities for learning, performance and public programs.
Each year, 10 artists will take up residence in the spacious, light-filled studios during Artspace’s 35-year lease.
The building will become an important space for the development of new work, and to support a total of 350 artists over the next 3 and a half decades.
Responding to the community’s need for a more connected, visible and inviting space, the gallery’s entrance has been reoriented onto the Forbes Street pedestrian plaza, reinstating an original doorway to connect with neighbouring pubs, cafes and restaurants surrounding the tree-lined public space.
The acclaimed premiere of Wiradyuri and Kamilaroi artist Jonathan Jones will be the first exhibition held at the gallery. Jones’ work ‘untitled (transcriptions of country)’ examines the impact of Australia’s colonial past.
‘Colouring Memory, 2023’ by Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay artist Dennis Golding, will be the first instalment as part of the Banner Series, and ‘LOUPE’ by Debra Phillips is the inaugural of 3 artist-led archive-focused projects presented in the Ideas Platform.
Much of the building’s original heritage features have been restored, with brickwork and structural elements retained, including timber trusses and columns. Integrating renewable energy and designed to be fully accessible, the building has been equipped with modern improvements to complement the heritage restoration.
The project was proudly supported by the NSW Government, through Create NSW, assisted by NSW Public Works, and led by award-winning architects DunnHillam.
Minister for the Arts John Graham said:
“The Gunnery has played a number of significant roles in Sydney’s cultural history – as a bond warehouse for the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper; a naval gun training facility during the second World War and for the past 35 years it has been a home for artists. It has housed some of NSW’s most significant arts organisations, and run an important artist residency program.
“Now with Artspace as the sole permanent resident, and an extensive artist residency and exhibition program it is firmly positioned as an integrated and holistic space for the development, production and presentation of contemporary art.
“The residency program will nurture hundreds of artists within this collaborative and supportive space, while the gallery, learning and public spaces will bring audiences in their thousands to experience many beautiful, thought-provoking exhibitions and presentations.
“This reimagined space promises to remain an important home for artists and creativity – shaping careers of artists and enrich the cultural life of NSW for generations to come.”
DunnHillam Principal Architect Ashley Dunn said:
“The adaptive re-use of heritage buildings is a challenge we thoroughly enjoy – we like to see heritage buildings live on, with contemporary uses adding meaning and stories to those that are already part of a place.
“The Gunnery is a distinguished building that has supported a wide range of activities over its 120-year life. Now and for the next hundred years it is set up to facilitate the development of Australia’s most innovative and important contemporary artists through exhibition spaces, studios and function rooms, connecting them to the global art scene.
“Our architectural ambitions were to reveal the nature and beauty of the original structure, to facilitate flexible and diverse art curation practices and to make a welcoming building for visitors from around the corner and from around the world.
“One of the architectural interventions we are most proud of is a simple one –reinstating the old front door, bringing the entry back to the public plaza and creating great opportunities for the life of the art gallery to connect with the life of the street.”
Artspace Executive Director Alexie Glass-Kantor said:
“In 1992, Artspace began its journey in The Gunnery, a building with a unique and remarkable history which we will continue to celebrate for the next 35 years. With The Gunnery’s transformation, led by architectural firm DunnHillam, Artspace now has the capacity to support multi-platform programming by artistic and creative leaders that are going to be living, making and working for decades to come.
“The Gunnery building has now been transformed to be fit for purpose to allow for the agility of exhibitions, residencies, public programs, community gatherings, supporting the production and presentation of new work by living artists.
“The NSW State Government’s tremendous leadership and enduring investment has secured the building as a space for contemporary art, bolstering Artspace’s unique opportunity to demonstrate the potential for artistic leadership in the state. We are so excited, not only for what is happening today, but for tomorrow and generations to come.”
About The Gunnery
Built around 1900, the historic building has served variously as a warehouse, a gunnery and trainee centre during World War II, an artist squat, home to various arts organisations including at one time the Biennale of Sydney and, more recently, the Arts Law Centre of Australia alongside Artspace.
The Gunnery has been home to Artspace since 1992, where it has become a place for artist experimentation, collaboration, and dialogue. Artspace now has a 35-year lease of the entire building to expand its vital contribution and legacy to the art community.