Museum move

May 2010

With support from prominent philanthropic foundations, Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA) will move to the Caulfield campus later this year. Building works are well underway to create MUMA’s new home.

The new facilities have been made possible through major gifts from donors including the Ian Potter Foundation, The Myer Foundation and the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust.

MUMA’s move from Clayton to the University’s Caulfield campus will have major benefits for the Museum, students, staff and the wider community, offering greater access to the Museum’s exhibition and education programs, as well as to the Monash University Collection.

The Ian Potter Foundation has made a philanthropic grant of $1 million, over five years, to the Museum. MUMA’s new sculpture courtyard (pictured) will be named in honour of Ian Potter to recognise and celebrate the Foundation’s support. MUMA director Max Delany believes that a highlight of the new facilities will be the display of the Monash University Collection, alongside MUMA’s program of changing exhibitions.

“Something of a hidden treasure, the Monash University Collection is one of the nation’s leading collections of contemporary Australian art since the 1960s, and now numbers some 1500 works. In our current premises, we don’t have dedicated space to permanently display works from the Collection,” Mr Delany says.

“The new MUMA at Caulfield will present changing displays of the Monash University Collection, in a dedicated gallery space. A second suite of galleries will feature a program of changing exhibitions.”

“We are very grateful for the significant support of these prominent foundations and trusts. Their philanthropy means that we can realise the full scope of the curatorial and architectural vision for the new facilities.”

As Monash University’s Faculty of Art & Design is located at the Caulfield campus, the Museum’s move will bring additional opportunities for teaching, learning and research in the visual arts.

Through the Sidney Myer Fund, The Myer Foundation has made a $400,000 philanthropic gift to support the project. The Helen Macpherson Smith Trust is supporting the project with a $200,000 grant, given over two years.

In recognition, the Helen Macpherson Smith Education Space will be the focal point for MUMA’s primary, secondary, tertiary and community education programs.