The Art misses you.
If there is one thing we have learnt during these times of restrictions, closure and social distancing, it is that NERAM is more than a building or a collection of artworks. It is a community of people. NERAM is a place you can explore art, meet with friends, get caught up in the excitement of a big event, learn new things and be part of a cultural community.
With our doors currently closed, it hasn’t been the same without you. Walking around NERAM’s galleries, empty of visitors, you can feel that the art misses you.
This year has unfolded unlike anything we expected or have previously experienced. COVID19 has come sweeping in as the region continues to recover from bushfires and survive through drought. We know many of you have been impacted by more than social distancing.
At NERAM we have felt a responsibility to support you and our community through these difficult times. We are not emergency responders or health workers and we cannot make it rain. What we try to do is to provide a point of connection, a place of respite and well-being, a community of support and culture. We know that this does not solve all the challenges that you are currently facing, but we do believe that art and culture play an important role in bringing together and keeping communities connected, and making cities and regions vibrant places to live by providing inspiration, education and entertainment that enriches our daily lives. It has been a challenge to achieve our mission while our doors have been closed, but we have adapted and tried to support our community to stay connected with art and culture, using on-line and social media platforms. It’s not the same, it’s not nearly as good, but for now, it is what is possible.
Currently the arts in Australia are experiencing extraordinary challenges. With prolonged closures, cancelled events and suspended programming, it will take the sector a long time to recover and we know that some institutions will not reopen after the current circumstances have passed. Artists are especially affected as they face cancelled exhibitions and opportunities with limited support available. There has never been a more critical time to support the arts.
At NERAM we have still been really busy. We have moved aspects of our program on-line and developed a new stream of virtual engagement opportunities; we have been catching up on a whole range of jobs around the museum that have previously been pushed to the side. Naturally we have been planning for the re-opening of the Museum. What we are most looking forward to is welcoming you back, seeing members of our community face to face in the gallery, reconnecting and catching up. We have so many exciting events and exhibitions planned for you to experience. We can hardly wait to show you.
NERAM is a community of people, and it is the support of this community that has made NERAM the jewel in the crown of New England and will ensure the Museum continues to thrive despite the challenges that we currently face.
Your generosity has literally built walls, expanded and preserved the NERAM Collections of art, delivered lifelong learning opportunities, thrilling events and an outstanding exhibition program. Everything that we do is made possible by your being part of our community. We are so grateful.
As the end of the financial year approaches we ask you to consider making a tax-deductible donation if you can to NERAM in our 2020 Annual Appeal and help support the future of the New England Regional Art Museum.
In 2020 our Annual Appeal has three points of focus that are critical to the future of NERAM: our Building, Creative Learning and the NERAM Foundation.
- Thanks to previous generous support from our community we have made progressive improvements to the NERAM facilities including re-cladding the exterior of the building, refurbishing gallery spaces, installing solar panels and we are currently making much needed improvements to the café. There is much more that we would like to see done to improve the facilities and visitor experience at NERAM and we have developed a masterplan for the next phase of progressive development and expansion.
- In 2020, thanks to a generous private donation, NERAM launched its new Creative Learning Program aimed at expanding life-long arts education opportunities. From Toddler Art Play through to Creative Ageing and everything in-between, NERAM strives to be a key contributor to New England continuing to be an outstanding education region.
- The NERAM Foundation remains one of the most critical and successful strategies for securing NERAM’s future and providing financial sustainability to NERAM and its activities. As the Foundation’s endowment fund grows, it will provide more funds each year towards NERAM’s operational costs such as staffing, insurance, building maintenance as well as the programs that activate the art museum and make us a key cultural destination.
You will have the opportunity to nominate the focus area you wish your donation to the 2020 Annual Appeal to be invested in, any of which are critical to the future growth and success of NERAM. If you can give, please use the donation form below. We rely on the generosity of our supporters to help us achieve our goals and we ask that you be part of our efforts to bring on NERAM’s future through making a tax-deductible donation.
Until the art, staff, volunteers and I can welcome you back to NERAM, we sincerely thank you for your generosity and support, and we look forward to seeing you at NERAM again soon.
- Rachael Parsons, Art Museum Director, New England Regional Art Museum Ltd
