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Welcome to the Manly Art Gallery & Museum, magnificently situated on Sydney Harbour and four minutes walk from Manly Wharf. Opened in 1930 as the first metropolitan-based regional gallery in NSW, the Gallery has become a popular destination for thousands of visitors each year.
Manly Art Gallery & Museum is unique and distinctive among regional galleries for a number of reasons including its focus on Australian ceramics, its extensive holdings of paintings by Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo and the two youth art awards presented annually.
Ceramics Collection
Manly Art Gallery & Museum has been developing an important collection of Australian ceramics which trace the development of styles and techniques in Australia since 1945. Through an active acquisitions program and donations, the collection is continuing to develop and build into one of Australia's most significant ceramic resources. As a key member of the Regional Galleries Association of NSW, this specialisation in ceramics is seen as a key focus in the NSW network of public galleries..gif)
The collection represents many key artists including Peter Rushforth, Ivan Englund, Janet Mansfield and Gwyn Hanssen Piggott. The works represent the diversity of techniques, aesthetics and artistic practice within the broad field of ceramics. From traditional wood-fired, salt-glazed and oxide-treated works, and works influenced by Japanese and Chinese ceramics, through to contemporary, post-modern works. Functional, decorative and sculptural styles of ceramics are represented.
In 1985, Manly Art Gallery & Museum’s growing collection was put on display permanently in the Lady Askin Ceramics Room. The exhibition and display of these works was made possible through The Lady Askin Bequest some years earlier. Works from the collection, totalling approximately 350, are on a changing display in the Lady Askin Ceramics Room. The collection was expertly assessed in 2005 by Gillian McCracken and information on the works and the artists is readily available for research.
Dattilo-Rubbo Collection
Manly Art Gallery & Museum holds 130 paintings by Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo (1870-1955), the largest collection of his work in any institution. A leading art teacher and artist, Rubbo helped instigate the
Manly Art and Historical Collection in 1924 which led to the establishment of the Gallery six years later. Although there were two regional galleries in country NSW by 1924, there was no precedent for a metropolitan, regional gallery. Rubbo was a founding committee member of the Gallery and donated a large body of his work in 1940.
For more information, please visit our new website dedicated to the life and work of Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo at: www.antoniodattilorubbo.com.au
Youth Art Awards
The Gallery presents two annual youth art awards, the Theo Batten Youth Art Award and the Manly Art Gallery & Museum Society Youth Art Award. They are awarded to two students whose HSC final year high school artworks are hung in the Express Yourself exhibition each March. These awards present an incredible opportunity for young artists living in our Northern Beaches region who are continuing on to study art or a related field at tertiary level.
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Exhibitions
Manly Art Gallery & Museum is a hub of cultural activity and presents a creative program of changing visual arts and museum exhibitions designed to stimulate the eyes and the minds of our visitors. Temporary exhibitions include touring shows, artist surveys and national group focus exhibitions. Our smaller gallery is dedicated to the artists from the Northern Beaches region. It features solo contemporary shows, retrospectives, surveys and group exhibitions.
The Gallery holds many diverse events relating to the exhibitions as well as a 'Sundays at the Gallery' program of guided tours, artist talks,
workshops, performances
and other special events. The Gallery also coordinates the Manly Arts Festival each September which highlights the diversity of arts practice in the Manly region, from music to performance and the visual arts.
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The Museum section is dedicated to preserving Manly's unique history as one of Australia's most loved beach resorts. Opened in 1982, the Museum focuses on the history of Manly and the Northern Beaches with changing, annual exhibitions.
The particular emphasis is on beach culture in the 20th century and the collection includes many wonderful examples of swimwear, surfcraft, beach memorabilia as well as over 3000 historical photographs of the Manly area and its people.
Art Collections
Manly Art Gallery & Museum has a superb collection of contemporary and early Australian paintings and works on paper, as well as some international works. The art collection was borne through the generosity of artists and donors including Margaret Preston, Thea Proctor, Will Ashton and Lloyd Rees. Our most famous painting, Tom Roberts’s 'The flower sellers' c.1899 was donated in 1936 by Colonel Spain. The extensive collection now contains over 1,000 watercolours, prints, etchings, drawings and paintings. Aspects of the collection are put on temporary display as often as possible.
Donations
You may make a contribution to the Manly Art Gallery & Museum through a donation or bequest. Our collection has developed greatly over the years through the generosity of artists, collectors and local residents who share a fondness for our unique gallery.
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The Manly Art Gallery & Museum Society plays an important role in the Gallery. Members elected to the Committee provide support to the staff and are involved in fundraising activities on behalf of the Gallery.
Members receive many benefits including double invitations to all exhibition openings and special events, free entry to all exhibitions and a 10% discount at the giftshop. If you are interested in joining this wonderful art society, please contact the gallery for an application form.
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Invitations to all exhibition openings
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Invitations to all Society events and social functions
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10% discount on all purchases over $10 from the giftstore
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Quarterly newsletter
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Opportunity to play an important role in the continued development of the arts in Manly
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To become a Society member, contact the gallery.
Entry to the Gallery & Museum is free to all visitors at all times.
There is wheelchair access to all areas except the Lady Askin Ceramics Room.
Giftshop
Our gift shop offers interesting souvenirs from the Gallery and a unique collection of cards.
Opening times
Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-5pm.
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Programs
The Gallery holds many public programs related to the exhibitions as well as other special events. Sundays @ the Gallery comprises a range of artists talks, guided tours and other events for your interest and enjoyment.
Contact details
West Esplanade Manly
PO Box 82 Manly NSW 2095 Australia
tel: 61-2-9976 1420 fax: 61-2-9948 6938
email: artgallery@manly.nsw.gov.au
website: www.manly.nsw.gov.au