Art Museum of Kangaroo Island – Art Museum of Kangaroo Island

Keeping the Art Museum of Kangaroo Island project alive

After a very disappointing miss on a property near Penneshaw for the Art Museum of Kangaroo Island, the search for a suitable site on the Dudley Peninsula continues – and is narrowing, with the help of our architect Kerstin Thompson, to a small selection of locations. Fortunately, the area abounds in gorgeous landscapes and views.

We are determined and confident that 2025-26 will be the year when we secure a suitable site and start on the design. We have raised significant funds for a land purchase, and have grants to progress the design development.

To fulfill those exciting things, we need to keep the necessary, but possibly boring, things ticking over. Yes, admin and project coordination.

Anything but boring is our project coordinator Yulia Linovskiy, whose enthusiasm has been captured in a fundraising video on the Australian Cultural Fund website.

We have an ambitious $20,000 target for the upcoming financial year. With your help, we can make it. Every little bit is a big contribution to bring our community project to life.

To keep track of our progress, and Kangaroo Island artists, follow us on Instagram @artmuseumkangarooisland

Change renews enthusiasm

The unexpected turn-around by Kangaroo Island Council on negotiations for land in Kingscote has obliged the Art Museum of Kangaroo Island Board to reconsider its preferred location.

The prime site overlooking Bay of Shoals, chosen after an exhaustive search of available land and supported by 80 per cent of 350 community consultation respondents in 2020, will be hard to match for its scenic value and accessibility.

The AMKI board is very disappointed with the rushed council decision to block use of its preferred site, but notes that council continues to support the project itself.

The change has only solidified the board’s enthusiasm for its visionary project – to reveal Kangaroo Island art to the world and draw world art to Kangaroo Island.

Kangaroo Island tourism statistics show that for many of our visitors, culture is a missing aspect in the tourism experience. What better than AMKI, our own regional gallery, to fill this gap? And the entire community, and especially the artistic and tourism sectors, will be the beneficiaries.

The board is now looking for a new location and will take its time to work through the possibilities to ensure it makes the best choice to reflect the special qualities and beauty of the island. The site and the gallery must meet Australian standards for museums and galleries to gain access to high quality travelling exhibitions, and thus secure the greatest benefit for Kangaroo Island.

The project continues to be supported by its chosen architect, Kirsten Thompson, Australian Institute of Architects 2023 gold medal winner, and a number of philanthropists and foundations.

The case for the Art Museum of Kangaroo Island

The Art Museum of Kangaroo Island will be a community space on community land.

A grant from the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund has allowed the AMKI committee to prepare a business case for the Art Museum project. This business case, prepared by high-calibre consultants, shows a strong case for cultural, social and economic benefits to the Kangaroo Island community.