Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Perry G. Christie will officially open the National Art Gallery, formerly VillaDoyle, on West Hill Street, on Monday, July 7, at 5 p.m.
The opening of the Art Gallery is part of the celebrations of The Bahamas 30th anniversary of Independence.
The Bahamas government purchased Villa Doyle in 1995 and agreed later that year to restore the historic building to house the National Art Gallery.
Early in 1996, a committee was appointed co-chaired by Dr. Gail Saunders, Director of Archives, and Mr. Vincent D’Aguilar (who later resigned) to oversee the restoration of Villa Doyle, to spearhead fund-raising activities in its support and to guide the establishment of the National Art Gallery.
The other members of the committee, known for their dedication to art and cultural preservation, are Cleophas Adderley, Director of Culture; Ian Fair, Cedric Saunders, Grace Turner, Kim Outten-Stubbs, Hervis Bain Jr., Harold Munnings, Simonetta Raymond Barker, Camille Barnett, Margaret Guillaume, Francine Horton, Clarice Granger, Vernice Walkine, Lady Johnstone and Julian Francis.
Anthony Jervis of Anthony Jervis Architects Limited was named architect for the restoration of Villa Doyle. Three consultants funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) advised the committee on various aspects of the restoration project.
Architectural drawings were prepared to put to bid in 1998. Due to an unsatisfactory first tender exercise, a second exercise was required. Finally, an 18-month, $3.9 million government contract was awarded in February, 2000, to Hunt Construction Company.
The National Art Gallery committee raised about $400,000, some of which was used to pay engineering and architectural consultants.
Since January, 2001, the National Art Gallery committee has been advised by consultant curator, Dr. Petrine Archer-Straw, on the curatorial aspects of establishing the National Art Gallery.
Dr. Archer-Straw is curating the first of The Collector’s series of exhibitions entitled “One Man’s Visions” and comprising a selection of work in the collection of Vincent D’Aguilar.
The committee has also sought to identify qualified Bahamians for the Gallery and succeeded in locating two highly qualified Bahamian art historians ﾖ Miss Erica James and Dr. Krista Thompson.
Miss James is assisting the committee as a visiting curator and is organising and curating the inaugural national exhibition. Dr. Thompson is curating a photographic exhibition entitled “Bahamian Visions ﾖ Photographs 1870-1930,” which are historic and interesting photographs of Old Nassau.
The inaugural national exhibition curated by Miss James is the result of a Call For Works made in March, 2003, requesting artists ﾖ home and abroad ﾖ to submit three pieces of work made between 1973 and 2003.
There were over 270 works submitted from over 130 artists. Some 73 were chosen by a seven-member panel of judges. The exhibition features some of the lost exciting art produced by Bahamians in the past 30 years.
A Bill to establish the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, to empower the gallery to acquire works of art, and which sets out the functions of the gallery and establishes a Board to be responsible for the management, general direction and control of the gallery, has been passed by Parliament and is expected to be brought into force shortly.
“When established, the National Art Gallery will be of great educative value,” said Dr. Saunders.
Historically, she said, most of The Bahamas’ artists have developed their skill from teaching provided with the government school system and at The College of The Bahamas.
This has been nurtured by competitions such as the Central Bank’s annual art competition focusing on students and individuals up to 26 years of age, and FINCO’s workshops catering to primarily high school students.
Dr. Saunders said the gallery can supplement these activities by providing tours, workshops and special programmes such as slide presentations and discussion sessions for them.
A Study Centre is planned for the Gallery, and is expected to be completely digitised with work stations, posters and display items.
“The gallery will document all its collection on-line and it will keep general information about art and artists in The Bahamas and the Caribbean,” said Dr. Saunders.
She said an Education Officer with registrar and library skills will be hired to head the Study Centre. That person will work closely with the Curator to promote programme of the Gallery to the wider community.
The Education Officer will assist with the interpretation of exhibitions, through printed and audio visual materials so that it can be made accessible to school children, tourists and other visitors, Dr. Saunders said.
By Bahamas Information Services
