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March 11th, 2024
The Gunnery refurbishment sets a creative legacy
Art is an evolutionary act. The shape of art and its role in society is constantly changing. At no point is art static,” said the American artist Raymond Salvatore Harmon. And in the ever-shifting landscape of creativity, the heritage-listed Gunnery in Woolloomooloo stands as a testament to the evolution of life and art itself. Spanning a rich history of 120 years, this iconic building has witnessed a myriad of transformations. Built by the Fairfax family as an ink and paper storage facility for the Sydney Morning Herald it was repurposed as a defence facility during WWII; as a military instruction centre for guns (hence its name); as a naval film lab and cinema, and for more than 60 years, The Gunnery has been occupied by artists. Now, FDC’s redevelopment of Artspace (housed in the Gunnery) has secured the building as an internationally significant contemporary art and cultural destination that will support emerging and established artists for at least another three-and-a-half decades.
Shaping an artistic future
As part of the government's Arts Maintenance Upgrade initiative, FDC was entrusted with the full refurbishment of this historic three-storey heritage building (alongside an additional six largely-heritage sites throughout Sydney) encompassing gallery spaces, offices, meeting and multipurpose rooms, and 11 vast artist studios.
“This project really demonstrated FDC’s expertise in handling complex projects, particularly with regards to navigating the unique challenges presented by heritage sites. One of the most challenging aspects of this project was the upgrade of the existing multi-story timber post and beam structure, originally constructed in 1906. Our joint efforts with Create NSW, DunnHillam Architects, heritage consultant GML, structural engineer John Carrick, and fire engineer Minerva, saw a bespoke safety solution involving an entire building fire services upgrade, intumescent painting to floor-boards and joints to the underside of each level and the build of a fire rated floor above,” says Patrick Parame, Project Manager, FDC Fitout & Refurbishment NSW.
Ben Van Dijk, General Manager, FDC Fitout & Refurbishment NSW added, "Following projects like the National Arts School and White Bay Power Station, our work with Artspace underscores FDC’s dedication to preserving Sydney's heritage while promoting its cultural and artistic evolution.”
An enduring partnership
The project has not only revitalised a key cultural landmark but also heralded a new chapter in the support and growth of contemporary art in Sydney, as part of FDC’s mission to deliver projects that highlight the value of art and culture in the community. Since The Gunnery’s completion, FDC’s relationship with Artspace has flourished into a long-term partnership.
In 2023, FDC was named the exclusive Build & Growth Partner of Artspace’s Groundbreaker Program which includes sponsorship of the One Year Artist Studio Program for which live-artwork artist Latai Taumoepeau is the recipient in 2024. And it’s a partnership that will have an enduring positive impact on Sydney’s creative community, says Artspace Executive Director Alexie Glass-Kantor.
“Artspace now has the capacity to support multi-platform programming by artistic and creative leaders. The Gunnery building has been transformed to be fit for purpose to allow for the agility of exhibitions, residencies, public programs, community gatherings, supporting the production and presentation of new work by living artists,” she said.
“Tremendous leadership and enduring investment has secured the building as a space for contemporary art, bolstering Artspace’s unique opportunity to demonstrate the potential for artistic leadership in the state. We are so excited, not only for what is happening today, but for tomorrow and generations to come.”
To learn more and see what’s on at Artspace visit artspace.org.au
Image credit: Anthony Fretwell
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