THE HARRINGTON STREET ARTISTS' CO-OPERATIVE GALLERY
In 1973, the John Ogburn Studio Club proposed that the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority consider making the space in the Old Evans Store at 1st Floor 36 Harrington Street, The Rocks, available as a gallery which would allow young and developing artists to exhibit their work and provide visitors to the Rocks area, both local and overseas, with another area of interest.
The Authority accepted the proposal and the job of refurbishing the run down premises began. Costs were kept to a minimum by the dedicated labour of John Ogburn and his assistants but still exceeded $5000.
In October 1973, the Gallery held its first exhibition, and has since then mounted a new exhibition every three weeks except during the summer vacation.
Two alternatives were considered for the running of the Gallery at its inception - either forming a co-operative straight off or having, say two interested members managing and financing the Gallery. In the event, John and Annabel Anger undertook this latter course and continued for two years. Late in 1975 members of the Studio Club, artists and art lovers met to propose the formation of an Artists' Co-operative, pledging sufficient funds to reimburse the Angers.
Application was made to the Registrar of Co-operatives and on February 13th 1976, The Harrington Street Artists' Co-operative Gallery Limited was approved and incorporated as a Community Advancement non-profit making Society having an initial paid capital of $6,400 and 45 shareholders. Permission to transfer the Gallery's tenancy to the Co-operative was sought from the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority and granted.
In 1986 proposed developments in the Rocks, bringing with them the prospect of unmanageably large rental increases, made it necessary for the Co-operative to seek alternative premises. The present premises at 17 Meagher St. Chippendale, owned by the Dept. of Housing were found in late 1986 .
After hundreds of hours of voluntary labour by many members of the Co-operative and the expenditure of some $10,000 on the premises, the new Harrington Street Gallery opened its doors to the public in February 1987 and has continued to operate most successfully since then.
The articles of Association of the Co-operative provide that "The purpose of the gallery is to exhibit to the public works of art of quality". The gallery is therefore bound by its rules to put this before other considerations which must affect commercial galleries established for profit and which tend to exhibit only established artists and profitable works.
Membership of the Co-operative does not guarantee nor is it a necessary prerequisite for exhibiting in the gallery.
Exhibition costs are kept to a minimum through voluntary labour. Directors, who are elected annually, receive no remuneration. The gallery is staffed by members and friends on a voluntary basis.
As the gallery is a non-profit co-operative it has been granted exemption from tax by the Commissioner of Taxation and in 1986 the Commissioner granted the gallery the status of 'Donee of Tax Deductable Gifts' which means that gifts to the gallery can now be claimed as a tax deduction.
The Co-operative now has over ninety shareholders.
For forthy three years, without any outside funding, the Gallery has maintained its original aims of providing, for young and developing artists, the opportunity to exhibit their work, at the same time making a substantial contribution to the artistic life of Sydney.
In 1973, the John Ogburn Studio Club proposed that the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority consider making the space in the Old Evans Store at 1st Floor 36 Harrington Street, The Rocks, available as a gallery which would allow young and developing artists to exhibit their work and provide visitors to the Rocks area, both local and overseas, with another area of interest.
The Authority accepted the proposal and the job of refurbishing the run down premises began. Costs were kept to a minimum by the dedicated labour of John Ogburn and his assistants but still exceeded $5000.
In October 1973, the Gallery held its first exhibition, and has since then mounted a new exhibition every three weeks except during the summer vacation.
Two alternatives were considered for the running of the Gallery at its inception - either forming a co-operative straight off or having, say two interested members managing and financing the Gallery. In the event, John and Annabel Anger undertook this latter course and continued for two years. Late in 1975 members of the Studio Club, artists and art lovers met to propose the formation of an Artists' Co-operative, pledging sufficient funds to reimburse the Angers.
Application was made to the Registrar of Co-operatives and on February 13th 1976, The Harrington Street Artists' Co-operative Gallery Limited was approved and incorporated as a Community Advancement non-profit making Society having an initial paid capital of $6,400 and 45 shareholders. Permission to transfer the Gallery's tenancy to the Co-operative was sought from the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority and granted.
In 1986 proposed developments in the Rocks, bringing with them the prospect of unmanageably large rental increases, made it necessary for the Co-operative to seek alternative premises. The present premises at 17 Meagher St. Chippendale, owned by the Dept. of Housing were found in late 1986 .
After hundreds of hours of voluntary labour by many members of the Co-operative and the expenditure of some $10,000 on the premises, the new Harrington Street Gallery opened its doors to the public in February 1987 and has continued to operate most successfully since then.
The articles of Association of the Co-operative provide that "The purpose of the gallery is to exhibit to the public works of art of quality". The gallery is therefore bound by its rules to put this before other considerations which must affect commercial galleries established for profit and which tend to exhibit only established artists and profitable works.
Membership of the Co-operative does not guarantee nor is it a necessary prerequisite for exhibiting in the gallery.
Exhibition costs are kept to a minimum through voluntary labour. Directors, who are elected annually, receive no remuneration. The gallery is staffed by members and friends on a voluntary basis.
As the gallery is a non-profit co-operative it has been granted exemption from tax by the Commissioner of Taxation and in 1986 the Commissioner granted the gallery the status of 'Donee of Tax Deductable Gifts' which means that gifts to the gallery can now be claimed as a tax deduction.
The Co-operative now has over ninety shareholders.
For forthy three years, without any outside funding, the Gallery has maintained its original aims of providing, for young and developing artists, the opportunity to exhibit their work, at the same time making a substantial contribution to the artistic life of Sydney.