New gallery at famed Heysen venue opens its doors
The stunning new Heysen Gallery opens its doors tomorrow at the historic The Cedars property in South Australia. The Cedars, located in Hahndorf is the property where revered Australian painters Sir Hans Heysen OBE and his daughter, Nora Heysen AM, lived and worked. The opening of the Heysen Gallery signifies a new chapter for the Heysen legacy and delivers an exciting artistic and cultural destination for South Australians and visitors.
The gallery will build on the already award-winning tourism offering at The Cedars, a nationally significant cultural destination delivering an artistic, cultural, historical and natural experience for visitors. Capitalising on the beautiful location, the gallery is nestled into the surrounding landscape. It creates an international-standard visitor experience and showcases the collections of the Heysens as well as featuring exhibitions of other Australian artists.
The gallery will provide secure and fire-safe storage of the Heysen collection and includes a retail outlet and workshop space to support the gallery’s future sustainability. The purpose-built gallery was fully funded by the Albanese Government’s $9 million contribution as well as with local council and philanthropic support. As part of Stage 1 of the Heysen Precinct project, the South Australian Government contributed $1 million towards the purchase of the property, with the Heysen family and Mount Barker District Council also contributing.
The gallery is opening with Heysen: A Shared Legacy, an exhibition curated by Allan Campbell featuring rarely seen works by Hans and Nora Heysen, including from private and family collections. The exhibition explores the artistic achievements, influences and shared creative vision of two of Australia’s most celebrated artists. An education and public programs schedule will commence later this year, providing greater opportunities for schools, artists and communities to engage with the Heysen legacy.
Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King: “The Albanese Government is proud to have contributed to the development of the Heysen Gallery, which will boost Adelaide’s cultural and tourism economy. “The Heysen Gallery will soon become a must visit destination in the Adelaide Hills, paying tribute to the legacy of the Heysens and showcasing the work of other talented Australian artists.” Quotes attributable to Senator for South Australia Charlotte Walker: “I look forward to seeing the community and those visiting experience the Heysen legacy in the very environment that helped bring these works to life.
“Hahndorf is a beautiful part of South Australia, known for its incredible food and stunning landscapes, and now a space to showcase talented Australian artists." Quotes attributable to General Manager of the Heysen Foundation Emma Farnam: "The Cedars is one of South Australia's most important cultural places, and the Heysen Gallery allows us to share its stories and collections in new and engaging ways.
“The inaugural exhibition, Heysen: A Shared Legacy, brings together remarkable works by Hans and Nora Heysen to tell the story of two artists whose contributions helped shape South Australia's cultural identity. It ensures their legacy remains accessible, relevant and inspiring for generations to come." Quotes attributable to Chair of the Heysen Foundation James Sexton: “"The Heysen Gallery is a fitting tribute to Hans and Nora Heysen and their legacy.
Major cultural projects such as the Heysen Gallery are investments in regional economies, visitor experiences and national culture. “The gallery strengthens The Cedars' position as one of South Australia's premier, award-winning cultural attractions and will deliver benefits to the Adelaide Hills tourism sector for decades to come."