The Warrnambool Art Gallery will be closed to the public from August this year to January 2020 while a new climate control system is installed.
The new heating, ventilation and cooling system will allow the WAG to present exhibitions and store collection items in an environment that meets industry standards.
The environment for patrons and staff will also be improved as a result of this upgrade.
WAG presents about 30 exhibitions annually, with half of these sourced externally, either from practising artists or from other cultural institutions through a loan arrangement.
WAG has more than 2000 items in its collection.
“Establishing stable environmental conditions is critical to the operation of a contemporary public art gallery,” WAG Director Vanessa Gerrans said.
“While the WAG is closed to the public staff will use the opportunity to finalise the gallery’s 10-year vision.
“The WAG team will also review the collection records system to increase the number of records stored digitally, to enhance the quality of images held in the data base and implement a new record storage system for the community’s museum collection.
“This work will inform the ongoing improvement of the collection information available on the WAG website.”
Due to the gallery’s closure, the Warrnibald exhibition will have a one year hiatus.
The 2020 Warrnibald will allow works created in 2019 and 2020 to be entered in order to accommodate artists who have already begun work.
