Winner
Texas Qld Inc.
Restoration of Texas Rabbit Works
Located near Queensland’s southern border, the Texas Rabbit Works is the last intact example of a rabbit processing plant left in Australia. Texas Qld Inc. purchased the Rabbit Works in 2002, which at the time was in a state of serious disrepair. To save this important piece of Australian history, volunteers began restorations through funding secured from various grants and donations. In 2015, major funding was received to complete the restoration, and the unique historical venue opened in May 2017.
Texas Rabbit Works tells the story of rabbits in plague proportions in Australia from the 1930s to the 1960s, and the subsequent processing of rabbits as a major industry, exporting to England and America.
The Rabbit Works not only records local history but also references the industry throughout Australia. It has facilities for the collection and recording of individual stories to add to the historical content of the displays. The Rabbit Works has been well supported by the community and the organisation is actively developing its capacity to make it a ‘must-see’ tourist attraction for the region.
Finalist
Lapunyah Art Gallery, Chinchilla
Exhibition Facilitators – In House Traineeship
Lapunyah Art Gallery is located in Chinchilla in Queensland’s Western Downs region. As part of the Gallery’s commitment to giving its volunteer staff greater understanding of the Gallery’s operational procedures, they developed the Exhibition Facilitators In-House Traineeship Program.
It is designed as a 12-month mentoring program which develops skills in working with exhibitors; preparing for and installing exhibitions; promotion and marketing of exhibitions and processing sold artworks. Trainees are also given a space within the gallery for which they have full curatorial responsibility.
The In-House Traineeship Program has allowed Lapunyah Art Gallery to increase its number of exhibitions per year, and has significantly developed their relationships with local artists. The trainees have become an integral part of succession planning for the Gallery.