Image: Wollongong Art Gallery facade, Michael Beare, Pictures of Pictures of Pictures, 2016. 16 digital prints on galvanised panels. Photography Bernie Fischer.
Wollongong Art Gallery would like to show their respect and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Dharawal Country, Elders past and present, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Wollongong Art Gallery, managed by Wollongong City Council, is one of the largest regional art museums in Australia.
Our aim is to enhance the understanding and enjoyment of the visual arts for the people of the Illawarra and visitors to the region.
Wollongong Art Gallery has an important collection of Australian, Aboriginal and Asian art. The permanent collection not only documents Illawarra regional histories and art practices, but also reflects developments and issues in art of local, national and international relevance.
Our diverse program includes exhibitions and activities that highlight the unique energy and creativity of the Illawarra region, as well as those derived from partner institutions around Australia and the world.
Statement on Bronius 'Bob' Sredersas
Wollongong City Council continues to work with key stakeholders from the Sydney Jewish Museum and the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies on next steps for Wollongong Art Gallery and its collections following confirmation that deceased benefactor, Bob Sredersas, who gifted the city 141 artworks, was classified a Nazi collaborator.
Sredersas migrated to Australia from Lithuania in 1950 and died in Wollongong in 1982.
Following receipt of a comprehensive report on Sredersas’ past, we have removed the naming plaque within the Gallery acknowledging him. Printed materials referencing Bob Sredersas and his gift are no longer publicly available within the Art Gallery.
We will keep the artworks and may use them in future exhibitions as they are an important part of the collection and provide an opportunity to help tell the story of Sredersas’s role in the Holocaust.
We are committed to supporting educational opportunities and worked with the Sydney Jewish Museum to present a public lecture on 30 March 2023 by Sydney Jewish Museum’s Resident Historian Emeritus Professor Konrad Kwiet who wrote the comprehensive report into Sredersas.
Read more in Council’s media release.
We have also partnered with Courage to Care NSW to hold a new exhibition and educational program, 'Courage to Care', that looks at the impacts of the Holocaust and inspires people to make a positive difference when confronted with incidents of discrimination, prejudice and bullying. The Gallery’s exhibition is scheduled for 23 September – 26 November.
We continue to work through other opportunities to build community knowledge, such as updating the Gallery’s online catalogue, with ongoing advice and support from the Sydney Jewish Museum and the Jewish Board of Deputies.
To learn more or read the commissioned report please see Council's media release.
