AN investigation into the conduct of a Goulburn art award has cleared gallery staff of wrongdoing. But a 22-page report has called for much clearer entry guidelines for the annual Veolia Environmental Services art award.
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It has also recommended refunds to all aggrieved artists. Findings from the investigation, completed by Matthew Lawrence of Planning, Environmental and Economic Consulting over the past few months, have just been released.
They followed four complaints about the winning entry, a pole sculpture by local artist Tracy Luff, awarded on March 31.
Three individuals and one organisation alleged the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery erred in accepting Mrs Luff’s work. They claimed it didn’t fit the entry criteria that “3D works should have a maximum size of 1 metre x 1m x 1m.” The sculpture titled ‘Through Thick and Thin,’ was 2.3m x 0.93 x 0.3m, which the artist argued fitted within hers and the gallery’s interpretation of one cubic metre.
Council general manager Chris Berry was pleased with the outcome and said the independent investigation was necessary.
“I’m very pleased from the perspective of gallery and other staff and the finding that they have acted in good faith and without impropriety,” he said.
However Mr Berry told the Post the gallery would fully implement findings. Mr Lawrence interviewed complainants, gallery staff, judges, the artist and widely consulted art galleries and museums on their interpretations of 3D works. He made four findings and six recommendations.
The findings were:
* There was no question the 1m x 1m x 1m entry criteria was open to interpretation; it could also mean one cubic metre.
* Despite this gallery staff were consistent in their volumetric interpretation and no entries were rejected as a result of this.
* There was no evidence of unethical or untoward behaviour, impropriety or corruption on the part of gallery staff or judges. * Minor changes to the art award’s entry criteria would have removed conjecture.
The consultant recommended that Council make a public statement to acknowledge grievances and the necessary improvements. Secondly, gallery staff should be proactive in engaging professionals, galleries and judges to develop and benchmark the entry and judging criteria.
For the full story and the related editorial, please see the print edition of Monday’s Goulburn Post.