Meet MAMA, the Murray Art Museum Albury.
This is the new name for the redeveloped Albury Regional Art Gallery, unveiled by AlburyCity Mayor, Kevin Mack and MAMA Advisory Committee Chair, Dr Guinever Threlkeld.
"We are incredibly excited to finally be able to reveal the new name, which we think is bold, memorable and speaks volumes about what this new landmark development stands for and what it will deliver for Albury and the Murray Region." Dr Threlkeld said.
"We're calling the new facility an art museum. An art museum owns a collection, commissions new work, is involved in education and the development of the community, and is a much bigger enterprise than a gallery."
"We wanted a name that included our location and connection with artists and audiences in both Albury and the wider Murray region, and could be abbreviated to a recognisable acronym. The Murray Art Museum Albury, MAMA, fits the brief and we believe it will be widely accepted among our local audiences, as well as visitors and the broader arts community."
"It was vital that the new name was marketable and memorable with wide appeal. We have no doubt that MAMA will deliver a world-class visitor experience. From the international standard exhibitions to the high-end restaurant and retail shop stocking uniquely Australian-made products, to the architecturally designed building, MAMA is a show-stopper." Dr Threlkeld said.
Cr Mack says the new name better reflects the positioning and vision for the new art museum as a vibrant and innovative contemporary cultural space connected with the community. "The old name just didn't fit with the direction that we are taking with the new facility, in particular the exhibition programing."
"We are no longer a regional art gallery, we are building a modern, contemporary art museum which will stand proudly among the ranks of Australia's leading modern arts institutions. MAMA will be welcoming, sophisticated, engaging, unexpected, fun
and alive with attitude."
The new name has the full backing of the advisory committee, the MAMA Art
Foundation (formerly Albury Wodonga Regional Arts Foundation) the Friends Group, Arts Albury and Council.
The unveiling of the new name coincides with the appointment of Jacqui Hemsley as MAMA's first Director. Jacqui has been a driving force behind the redevelopment project and steps into the role from her current position as AlburyCity's Group Leader Cultural Services.
Dr Threlkeld says Jacqui brings a wealth of experience to the position, having held Director roles at galleries in Gippsland, Broken Hill and New Zealand. "She is a highly qualified, talented and enthusiastic individual and I can think of no one better to launch MAMA."
"Jacqui has been intimately involved in the development of MAMA from the outset. She not only has an incredible depth of knowledge, she has been living the vision and the brand and has the passion and desire to make it the success we know it will be."
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