Our Story

Pre students | 1973 - 75

When acclaimed architect Robin Gibson originally conceived Griffith University’s first campus, he incorporated wide corridors with ample space so that artworks could be hung in communal student spaces. This foresight preceded the formalisation of a Griffith University Art Collection, with the first artworks purchased specifically to enhance the campus.

Although Griffith University’s course offerings did not extend to formal art training, Professor John Willett, Foundation Vice Chancellor, and Professor Charles Presley, Foundation Chairman for the School of Humanities, recognised the importance of providing a place for students to exercise their creativity. The original idea was to create a accessible space where students were able to create posters similar to that of Tin Sheds at the University of Sydney. Professor Presley further expanded this concept and pioneered a centre for printers, artists, musicians, writers, drama students and photographers.

Professors Presley and Willett organised a fundraising drive, with a goal to re-integrate art and community with artists, students and teachers by creating a series of simple buildings on campus from which a more formal arts program could be run.

Additional financial support was found from the Ian Potter Centre, the ɫ��վn Film Commission, the ɫ��վ Council’s Visual Arts and Film & Television Boards, and private donors and the Griffith University, Queensland Film & Drama Centre (QFDC) was born in 1975.

^{Image: Nevil Matthews, ‘Unit one’ (date unknown), coloured perspex and metal on board, 136 x 230cm. Griffith University Art Collection. Gift of Robin Gibson, 1975.}

The university opens | 1975 - 1980

With the first students arriving to the University in 1975, the first artist studios were opened on the Brisbane South (Nathan) campus. These included a video studio, darkroom and etching and lithography studios. The QFDC continued to expand its studio spaces and introduce what would become a thriving Artist in Residence Program.

Early Artists in the program included: David Perry, Lawrence Daws, Arthur Boyd, Michael Callaghan and Therese Kenyon.

To manage the rapidly growing QFDC, in 1978 Griffith University appointed our first Director (then named co-ordinator), Dr Margriet Bonnin. Under the leadership of Bonnin and the Works of Art Comittee, Griffith University continued to acquire contemporary artworks throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s.

In these early years, we began what would become a thriving exhibition program, where first exhibitions were often new acquisitions and displayed across the campus.

^{Image: Margriet Bonnin, with artist Arthur Boyd in the Griffith University Print Studio, 1978. Courtesy of the Griffith Archive.}

Building the art collection and the Queensland Film and Drama Centre | 1980s

In 1983 the growing art collection needed to be appropriately managed and it was determined that the Queensland Film and Drama Centre (QFDC) would take over management of the now-significant asset. With the arrival of the new Vice Chancellor Professor Roy Webb in 1986, many cultural programs across the University were also consolidated within the QFDC including concerts and community projects. In 1987 the University Council voted to change the name from Queensland Film and Drama Centre to Griffith Artworks to reflect the changes that had shaped the organisation over the previous decade.

Griffith Artworks' received significant annual funding from the Queensland Government throughout the 1980s to run public workshops and art studios, which continued until Griffith University’s merger with the Queensland College of Art (QCA) in 1996.

^{Image: Kaye Green at The Queensland Film and Drama Centre's new lithography studio, Griffith University, 1984.}

A growing university | 1990s

The 1990s saw Griffith University amalgamate with several technical colleges, including the Brisbane College of Advanced Education in 1990 and the Queensland College of Art in 1996. With these amalgamations came significant historical art collections that were consolidated into the Griffith University Art Collection, broadening the Collection’s scope to include works by some of ɫ��վ’s most respected artists.

Never one to shy away from new technology, in 1997 we launched the first iteration of our . This coincided with the start of our collection of Born Digital artworks including interactive CD-ROMs.

The late 1990s was also a time of change for Griffith Artworks' leadership, with the departure of our first Director Margriet Bonnin in 1998, and the promotion of Beth Jackson, previously Artworks’ curator, to the role.

We continued to host larger and larger exhibitions on and off campus with artwork film screenings taking place across Brisbane and exhibitions created by the Artworks' team touring across ɫ��վ.

^{Image: re collection: The Griffith University Art Collection - 25 Years, Brisbane City Hall Gallery, 1996.}

A new gallery | 2000s

In 2001 Griffith University opened a campus at South Bank, the heart of Brisbane’s cultural precinct, to accommodate the University’s new Visual Arts program. The campus included a multi-million-dollar public gallery space named QCA Gallery, with exhibitions and public programming to be overseen by Griffith Artworks. We made quick use of the University's first purpose-built gallery, opening the exhibition Place / Displace before the campus was officially opened!

In 2002, Simon Wright was appointed as Griffith Artworks Director and oversaw significant developments in our exhibition schedule and national profile. In 2005 QCA Gallery was renamed DELL Gallery following a sponsorship arrangement, which lasted until 2009 when the gallery was again briefly renamed QCA Gallery.

In 2010, QCA Gallery rebranded as Griffith University Art Gallery (GUAG).

^{Image: Colonial to Contemporary: Queensland College of Art 125 Years, installation view, Griffith University Art Museum, Brisbane, 2006. Photo: Mick Richards}

A new name | 2010 - Now

2010 saw the launch of our ongoing Internship program which has seen many alumni transition into careers in the arts over the past 15 years.

After the departure of Simon Wright in 2012, our current Director, Angela Goddard, was appointed in 2015. Her first exhibition, ‘Brutal Truths’, co-curated with Naomi Evans, was a group exhibition with Vernon Ah Kee, Gordon Bennett, and Destiny Deacon and Virginia Fraser, and hinted at the new focus on research, publications and world class exhibitions that would emerge at GUAM under her directorship.

In 2017, we formally changed our name, becoming the Griffith University Art Museum (GUAM) to better reflect the alignment of our significant art collection, research activities and our exhibition and public programs. This coincided with GUAM becoming a member of .

The Griffith University Art Collection is now the second largest public art collection in Queensland.

_{Image: Davida Allen: In the Moment, installation view, Griffith University Art Museum, Brisbane, 2018. Photo: Carl Warner}

Partnerships, foundational supporters and grants

The Art Museum has been supported by many partnerships, supports and grants over its history including its initial funding through anonymous donations and an Ian Potter Centre Grant. This funding allowed for the QFDC to establish itself and, with Grants from ɫ��վ Council Visual Arts Board, the Film & TV Board, and the ɫ��վn Film Commission, began to host Artist Residencies and establish studio and workshop spaces.

The Artists in Residence program would not have been possible without the support of many grants from the ɫ��վ Council over its 25 years. Funding for the workshops and artists also came from other areas including the Utah Foundation in 1984. This specific grant allowed for the purchasing of an American lithographic press and support from the Visual Arts Board providing a stipend for a residency to establish a lithography workshop.

Many of the external projects were supported by grants including the Logan City Story, Brickworks, and the permanent public artwork at the Logan Campus.

Celebrating 50 years

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^{Copyright Statement
Where known, all works of art displayed on the site are accurately described and attributed with the creator's name and where possible, approved by the copyright owner or their agents. If there is any inaccuracy, please contact the Art Museum. Images and text on this website may not be reproduced, downloaded, copied, published, used on other websites or emailed without permission, unless allowed under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cwth), (e.g. for the purposes of research and study). Please refer to Griffith University's Copyright Guide. Requests for copyright, reproduction, publication or amendment should be made in writing to the Art Museum. We are always pleased to hear from members of the public who may have additional information about works in the Collection or our historical archive.}

^{Cultural Sensitivity Advice
Griffith University Art Museum respectfully advises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that this database includes images, works and names of deceased peoples and may include images of artistic, cultural or intellectual property of a sensitive nature. This database may also contain perspectives that reflect the period in which items were created. While this information may not reflect current understanding, it is provided in an historical context.}