Your questions answered

What will the art museum ‘do’?

The art museum will be a place for promoting Kangaroo Island art and developing the art practice and knowledge of island artists. It will house a collection of Kangaroo Island art, travelling and temporary exhibitions, facilities for artists-in-residence, and workshop and meeting spaces. It is expected to also have a shop, a café/bar and small function/performance space, and inviting environmental surrounds. It will be designed with the community in mind and to appeal to the discerning visitor from Australia and abroad.

It is not a retail gallery, and because of its tourism appeal should increase sales in the existing community and retail galleries on KI.

The project is actively supported by project partner Regional Development Australia, Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island, and Thomson Geer Lawyers. Other notable supporters are Country Arts SA, SA Tourism Commission and Art Gallery of SA. Curator and director, Maudie Palmer AO, gifted the original layout and sizing.

Why does the island need an art museum?

  • The strength of visual art on Kangaroo Island, both professional and community, is not well known or documented. The art museum would place our art, past and present, on display in the public domain.
  • At present no building or space on the island has the climate and security conditions to house notable exhibitions such as national and international touring exhibitions, or to take advantage of the National Gallery of Australia’s initiative of loans of its artworks. For this reason, Kangaroo Island’s own ‘Island to Inland’ exhibition, which toured to 13 regional South Australian galleries could not come to the island.
  • The benefits of public galleries extend beyond the art community to the local community, to school students and partner organisations. (Regional Galleries Association of SA Mapping Project (PDF)
  • Public galleries are known tourism drawcards especially if in a spectacular location, have a compelling ‘look’ and experience, and are curated adventurously and interestingly.
  • Kangaroo Island has accolades from Lonely Planet (Best in Travel list), the New York Times (top 10 destinations) and Time Magazine (great places). However, tourism statistics (TOMM) show that visitors find KI lacking in cultural and historic experiences, and have a low satisfaction rate with the range, quality and availability of activities on the island.

What has AMKI achieved thus far?

The 2020 AMKI organisation community consultation won 80% community approval for the concept and the original site, selected through a rigorous survey and criteria-matching process. However, Kangaroo Island Council, while supporting the project itself, would not agree to AMKI on the original site. The AMKI board is now seeking a private site for purchase around Penneshaw.

In the meantime, AMKI is promoting KI artists through its Instagram presence – more than 56 KI artists have been featured since January 2023 to more than 1000 followers.

In 2024, AMKI also brought the first ever National Gallery of Australia Touring Exhibition to Kangaroo Island. Single Channel, a video collection of the work of six Australian artists, was shown at KI Artworks Gallery at Baudin Beach for two months.

Who is proposing the Art Museum?

Art Museum of Kangaroo Island Ltd is a not-for-profit company with directors skilled in arts administration, KI tourism, infrastructure development, gallery management, marketing, fundraising and the law. For more information on the eight directors, visit Our people.

The company’s objects include to:

  • develop, build and operate a significant regional art gallery on Kangaroo Island
  • promote and benefit Kangaroo Island art and Kangaroo Island artists
  • help develop the cultural life of Kangaroo Island and contribute arts experiences for both the Kangaroo Island community and visitors.

The company is a member of KI Business and Brand Alliance, Regional Galleries Association of SA, and Australian Museums and Galleries Association. It is registered as a charity with Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission, through the pro bono efforts of Thomson Geer Lawyers who are also pursuing deductible gift recipient status for AMKI.

How will the building and art museum operations be funded?

The 2023 greenfield construction estimate ($24.4 million for 1300 sq metres) and AMKI_BusinessCase7june2023 will be reviewed when the new location is secured. Project architect Kerstin Thompson (awarded Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 2023) is helping with the review of possible sites.

Major funding for the project would come from high-level sources with community contributing as they can through events and other fundraisers.

Operations funding (including acquisitions)from entry price (non-islanders – KI residents and children free), travelling exhibitions entry, café/bar and shop, supporters club, grants, events/space hire, philanthropy, sponsorship and bequests.

Construction funding from government regional and infrastructure grants, philanthropy, sponsorship and donations

Economic modelling by Regional Development Australia for the region (includes Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula as well as Kangaroo Island) indicates that the Art Museum would add:

  • $10.76 million value and 45 local jobs during construction
  • close to $1 million and 43 local jobs to the region each year.

How does the project fit with national and state strategies?

The project aligns with:

  • Revive: Australia’s Cultural Policy (Pillar 2: A place for every story; Pillar 4: Strong cultural infrastructure)
  • Thrive 2030 Australia’s re-imagined visitor economy visitor economy (Policy priority 5: Enhanced visitor infrastructure)
  • A Place to Create – South Australia’s 10-year policy for the arts, culture and creative industries (Ambitions: Regional South Australia is filled with vibrant arts and artists; Our arts, cultural and creative industries are accessible, equitable and inclusive)
  • The SA visitor economy sector plan 2030 (Strategic priority 2: Experience and supply development)

How can I be kept up to date on what’s happening or become involved?

Join our email list and follow us on Instagram @artmuseumkangarooisland. Please contact us at artmuseumkangarooisland@gmail.com if you have further questions.