News | Gertrude Contemporary announces move to a new space in Preston South

Yesterday Gertrude Contemporary announced that it would move to a new space on High Street in Preston South when its current lease ends in June. A few years ago then-director Emma Crimmings flagged that the gallery would be forced to move. Gertrude Contemporary opened in Fitzroy in 1985 as 200 Gertrude, well-before the current gentrification that is opushing up rentals and will see this important site for contemporary art in Melbourne no doubt replaced by more bars, rastaurants and expensive clothing shops.  Despite the announcement back in 2014 that Gertrude would become part of the planned Contemporary arts precinct at the old Collingwood Technical School site, this key space for contemporary art in Melbourne will now move further north to the ‘top end of Thornbury’ and into a purpose-built space.

The final exhibition at 200 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, The End of Time. The Beginning of Time. will form a tribute to the building and pay homage to the site’s history. For more information about this exhibition, please click here.

The new space will launch with its first major exhibition at the end of July.

Gertrude Glasshouse, at 44 Glasshouse Road, Collingwood, will remain the home of the Studio Artist solo exhibition program. This is a vital part of Gertrude’s artistic program and will continue to be so after the move.

From Gertrude

We are thrilled to announce that Gertrude Contemporary will be moving in June to a new location. After more than thirty years in our iconic Fitzroy building, we have reached the end of our lease and will be relocating to 21-31 High Street, Preston South, at the top end of Thornbury.

This move, the first in our history, represents an exciting new phase for Gertrude. Formerly a large retail showroom, the interior of this space will be re-designed by architects Edition Office, to create flexible exhibition spaces, sixteen non-residential artist studios and offices all on one level.

As a leading centre for contemporary art and ideas, Gertrude provides a space for artists and the public to engage in risk-taking contemporary art. The new premises will enhance Gertrude’s artistic program, supporting the production and presentation of contemporary art practice.

‘Without question the building and location of the current premises have been instrumental in how Gertrude, its community of artists and its broader audiences have evolved,’ says Mark Feary, Artistic Director, Gertrude Contemporary, ‘however, for over thirty years, the architectural parameters have remained the same.’

‘For the first time in our history,’ he continues, ‘we have been able to design an architectural structure that will meet the needs of artists and audiences. Our new purpose-built spaces will reflect our commitment to artistic development and practice. Additionally, the new location offers us the opportunity to be located in greater proximity to where many artists are now living and to contribute towards the increasing dynamisation of those areas.’

 

1 comment for “News | Gertrude Contemporary announces move to a new space in Preston South

  1. A
    May 7, 2021 at 9:10 am

    I’m sure this is going to be great for Thornbury (which lets face it, its in Thornbury) – Ilive up her and I’m pleased.
    I do have to note though that ‘(contributing) towards the increasing dynamisation of those areas’ is just another phrase for gentrifying, as has been happening at an alarming rate. Its very interesting that those doing the gentrifying always identify the Other as the gentrifier and never themselves. Rent in Preston has already gone up to stupid levels in the last two years just in anticipation of the mass gentrification to come, so it will be interesting to see how much longer Gertrude is really catering to artists in its next space

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