Mosman Mayor welcomes cultural funding

State Government funding of more than $200,000 will assist with significant improvements to Barry O’Keefe Library and art collection storage for Mosman Art Gallery.

Minister for the Arts Don Harwin and North Shore MP Felicity Wilson presented the funds to Mosman Mayor Carolyn Corrigan during a visit today to Barry O’Keefe Library, where they saw first-hand the site of the proposed indoor garden reading zone which will receive a $185,000 grant from the State Library’s Public Library Infrastructure Grants Program.

Mosman Art Gallery’s $20,000 grant from Create NSW’s Capital Program will help provide improved safe, secure and climate controlled facilities to house Mosman’s valuable art collection.

“Mosman Council welcomes these important grants which will assist us in delivering key projects for two of our most loved and significant community cultural facilities,” Mosman Mayor Carolyn Corrigan said.

“The library works will enhance the visitor experience to our popular Barry O’Keefe Library by transforming an existing unused external area to an enclosed atrium like space which will enhance the ambience with a relaxed, contemporary look and feel in keeping with modern library design trends.

“This new reading, study and relaxing area will feature plenty of natural lighting with a close connection to the outside area and will help meet demand for additional spaces for quiet reading, studying, and wi-fi access as well as providing more space for regular library programs such as author talks and workshops.

“The Create NSW grant will assist Council in caring for our prestigious Mosman Art Collection, which is one of the most important art collections held by local government in Australia, allowing us to exhibit these works and share them with communities across NSW.”

The library and art storage works will be completed by early 2019.