Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Remarks at Official Opening of The Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art

Premier and Minister for the Arts, Federal Minister for Communications and Minister for the Arts; distinguished guests.  To the traditional custodians of these lands, I extend respectful greetings and thank Ms Avril Quaill for her Acknowledgement of Country.

Kaye and I are delighted to be here this evening to share the excitement of this ‘night of nights’.

Tonight’s event marks the culmination of twenty-two years of commitment to a truly visionary goal: to build, here in Queensland, one of most significant collections of contemporary Asian and Pacific art worldwide; and thanks to GOMA – we have it!

This APT8 is a splendid demonstration of the enduring power of that founding vision. As Governor, I am an unashamedly partisan Queenslander, and as a member of the Foundation for many years, and now its patron, I warmly congratulate everyone concerned on this splendid achievement: the trustees, the benefactors, the sponsors, the curators, the staff, the volunteers, and, of course, the artists.

Kaye and I feel an affinity with the exhibition in that last October, we had the privilege of being welcomed as official visitors to the Singapore Art Museum. There, we experienced, first hand, the warmth and sincerity of an apparently important regional relationship with our Gallery.

Similarly, in India, we made an official visit to the wonderful National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum, helping – we hope - to cement Queensland’s burgeoning relationship with yet another key collecting institution in our region.

Both visits confirmed to us how very highly our State Gallery is valued and respected in the wider region.

That international reputation echoes the Gallery’s long-standing reputation at home in Queensland.  I am particularly pleased as Governor to acknowledge that the gallery has made such a significant commitment to regional Queensland this year through APT8 Kids on Tour. The tour will visit over sixty-five regional and remote venues, including Indigenous Knowledge Centres and venues in the Torres Strait. This is an enormous undertaking and has been made possible only through the continuing generosity of the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation.

I have mentioned our intra-state experience, and that internationally, it is immensely encouraging to us, representing you all, to see the great respect in which QAGOMA is held.

As Governor, I am privileged to speak on behalf of all Queenslanders, and in that capacity, I acknowledge and thank all sponsors and supporters of the APT8 for helping to ensure maximum cultural and economic benefit from this remarkable event.

Once again, I warmly congratulate and thank all concerned with this magnificent project. I am confident it will enjoy the overwhelming success it deserves.