Something new is taking shape inside the Newcastle Art Gallery.
Visitors will get their next glimpse on 19 December when another room in the expanded building quietly opens to the public.
But, the gallery’s team isn’t saying too much about what is inside as the staff want people to experience it for themselves.
What they have confirmed is that the room will feature more than 130 artworks drawn from a collection valued at more than $30 million.
The display is set to include Colonial-era pieces and modern Australian favourites.
Works by Joseph Lycett, William Dobell, Grace Cossington Smith and Margaret Preston are among the highlights.
To mark the opening, the gallery is bringing back its Friday Night Sounds event.
Newcastle singer-songwriter Nina Romeru will perform while local artists guide a wildlife drawing workshop.
The after-hours event is free and will take place from 5pm to 8pm.
Newcastle Art Gallery director Lauretta Morton OAM said it was exciting to be able to reveal another new space as preparations continued for the full reopening in February.
“We have been overwhelmed by the support shown since we opened the doors to the community on 26 September for their first look at some of our new galleries,” she explained.
“Almost 11,000 people have already visited the gallery and been treated to a taste of our nationally significant collection alongside major First Nations commissions and new acquisitions.
“We’ve had guests coming from across Australia and around the world including Austria, Canada, Finland, France, India, Mongolia and Switzerland.”
Behind closed doors, the final stages of the expansion resume.
Each space must meet strict environmental conditions before artworks can be installed as nine more rooms are still to come.
The gallery is open from Friday to Sunday between 10am and to 4pm.
But, the full reopening will take place in February with a major exhibition and a new commission by international artist Fayen d’Evie.
The expansion is supported by $5 million from the Australian Government and $5 million from the NSW Government.
The Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation has also contributed $12 million through the Valerie and John Ryan bequest, the Margaret Olley Trust, and years of community fundraising.
Now, it is also seeking an additional $1 million through its public campaign.
“We’re thrilled to be able to open our fourth new gallery space later this month, but this is still just the beginning,” Ms Morton said.
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