Alcoa's Gift To Victoria Community

Alcoa's Gift to Victoria Community

Alcoa of Australia continues giving away its $3 million corporate art collection to galleries and health care organisations across the country, with the Melbourne Royal Women's Hospital and the Geelong Gallery the latest to benefit.

The multi-million dollar art collection has been donated to seven organisations and includes pieces of work by famous Australian artists including Sir Sidney Nolan, Jeffrey Smart, Pro Hart, Margaret Olley and Arthur Boyd. The donations come in the midst of the challenging economic climate when Australian communities need corporate support more than ever.

Alcoa's Managing Director Alan Cransberg said it was during times of economic challenge that communities
should not be forgotten.

"We've all got to remember that now, more than ever, our communities need our support - and we recognise that Alcoa has a role to play in that," he said.

With the benefit of the arts firmly entrenched in Alcoa's values, the company began collecting pieces back in 1970. Since that time, its private collection has significantly risen in value, with many pieces becoming part of Australian history.

"Our philosophy was that there was little value in having famous pieces of art locked away in our corporate offices, when they could be in public places for the whole community to enjoy for generations to come," Mr Cransberg said.

"We have a core value at Alcoa to make access to the arts a reality for everyone, so donating our art is one additional way we can enrich communities."

This month seven pieces, valued at over $300,000 were officially handed over to the Geelong Gallery. The gift includes work by Sir Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd and Ray Crooke.

Geelong Gallery Director, Geoffrey Edwards, said: "I pay tribute to Alcoa's foresight in assembling the original corporate collection a collection of magnitude and quality and to the extremely generous strategy of staged handovers of major works of art to key not-for-profit organisations within the cities or regions where Alcoa operates.

"Each of the paintings and works on paper that have been donated to us add lustre to a collection that already reflects Alcoa's support over some years now." The Alcoa gift to the Melbourne Royal Women's Hospital is valued at close to $100,000 and includes work by Pro Hart.

In February, 21 pieces valued at nearly $400,000 were donated to the City of Bunbury Art Collection in Western Australia. The gift was the largest corporate donation the City of Bunbury had ever received.

City of Bunbury Mayor David Smith said: "This is a truly remarkable gift, as these artworks would normally be well beyond the means of our collection," the Mayor said.

Also in February, the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre benefited from a prized piece of work, valued at $90,000, by well-known Australian artist Margaret Olley.

36 artworks were donated to Perth's Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH) late last year the gift included works by well-known WA artists Elizabeth Durack and William Boissevain, valued at around $75,000.

SCGH Art Curator, Joanna Wakefield, said research into the benefits of art in hospitals was ongoing, but it was fair to say that any images which improved emotional well-being during often difficult and stressful times could only have positive effects.

Alcoa's art giving began in 2002 and 2005 donating to the National Gallery of Victoria, the National Gallery of Australia and the National Portrait Gallery.

Mr Cransberg said that often the most valuable contribution to communities did not involve money.

"This gesture, which I believe will leave a lasting impact on our communities, has been made at no cost to our business, which is obviously a consideration in these challenging times.

"I encourage everyone, from individuals to corporates, to look around their own backyards to see how they can help.

"While we have many community partnerships which receive financial contributions, we also have active employee volunteering programs where it is our time that is offered to not-for-profit organisations and time is something anyone can give," Mr Cransberg said.

- ENDS -

Media contact:
Sarah Tempest
0404 800 417

The Alcoa gift exhibition at the Geelong Gallery
The pieces donated to the Geelong Gallery are:
*Charles Blackman, Night reflections, c. 1955-65, oil on canvas board
*Arthur Boyd, Shoalhaven landscape, 1970s, oil on hardboard
*Ray Crooke, Fijian village, 1970, oil on canvas on board
*Sir Sidney Nolan, Kelly, 1971, etching, and Horse, 1960s, etching
*Desiderius Orban, Autumn wind, oil and metal foil on hardboard, 1958
*Michael Shannon, High noon, oil on canvas, 1970

Exhibition dates: 11 July to 6 September 2009

Where:
Geelong Gallery, Little Malop Street, Geelong

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 10am 5pm
Weekends and public holidays 1pm 5pm
Guided tours of the collection from 2pm Saturday
ENTRY IS FREE

For images of the art and information about the exhibition contact
Sue Ernst (03) 5229 3645
[email protected]

SOURCE: Alcoa of Australia