The Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology is proud to announce that our Art Gallery & Café Extension Project has been awarded the 2025 Gallery and Museum Achievement Award (GAMAA) for Sustainable Practices – Organisations with Paid Staff.
This prestigious award, presented by Museums & Galleries Queensland (M&G QLD), recognises organisations who strive towards excellence in sustainable practice.
About the Project
Completed in June 2024, the Abbey Museum’s new extension includes an art gallery, café, shop, reception area, accessible parking and amenities, and a collection store.
Designed by Open Architecture Studio and delivered with the support of government, foundations, and private donors, the project brings together conservation-grade facilities, accessible spaces, and a welcoming simple café to enhance the visitor experience.
The Gallery opened on 1 February 2025 with the exhibition Inspired Images: The Art of Faiths, showcasing Renaissance and Baroque artworks from the John Ward Collection alongside interactive displays, audio-visual storytelling, and creative learning activities.
A beautifully produced catalogue, launched by Philip Bacon AO, contextualises the collection’s history and research by Michael Strong, Senior Curator and consultant art historian, Julia Jackson.
At the entrance, visitors are welcomed by Acknowledgement to Kabi Kabi Country, a striking bronze sculpture designed by Kabi Kabi artist and traditional custodian Lyndon Davis in collaboration with public artist Russell Anderson and curator John Waldron.
This work honours the ancient cultural heritage of the land on which the Museum sits and anchors all school visits with an introduction to First Nations stories and custodianship.
Sustainability and Community Impact
The project reflects years of careful planning and collaboration with outstanding professionals in architecture, conservation, art history, curatorship, and design.
It demonstrates sustainability in practice through:
- Design choices that support collection care, accessibility and the visitor experience.
- Community partnerships that celebrate First Nations voices, local trades, and creative professionals.
- Financial sustainability, secured through a blend of government grants, philanthropic support, and community fundraising.
Since opening, the Gallery and Café have already enhanced the visitor experience, creating a restorative social space and encouraging repeat visits. Independent visitors and tour groups have grown significantly, and the project has laid strong foundations for the Museum’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, with its focus on deeper visitor engagement and sustainable operations.
Looking Ahead
This award acknowledges not only a successful building project but a transformation in the Abbey Museum’s potential to grow its audiences. Now with Renaissance and Baroque art and artworks from diverse cultural beliefs displayed with accessibility in mind and foregrounded by public art from local cultural custodianship, the extension embodies our vision: to enrich people’s lives through stories created from our collection while ensuring our operations remain sustainable and inclusive.
We extend heartfelt thanks to our volunteers, supporters, government partners, and the many professionals who helped bring this vision to life. Together, we have created a space that celebrates culture, cares for collections, and welcomes all visitors for generations to come.
To our dedicated volunteers, staff, supporters, and visitors, this recognition belongs to everyone who has contributed to helping the Abbey Museum achieve recognition in sustainable practice within the cultural sector.
Thanks once again to Museums and Galleries Queensland; Award Artist Vanessa Cannon from Yalanji Arts Collective, supported by Brian Tucker; Open Architecture Studio; Colab; ATG and all the numerous consultants; Michael Barnett; John Hook; John Waldron; Lyndon Davis; Russell Anderson; Robert Allen; Helen Gill; Julia Jackson; Andrae Pilcher; The Abbey Museum Board and The Abbey Community.
Read M&G Announcement
M&G QLD Media Release
Photographs by Sarah Marshall, Jiriki Photography, courtesy of Museums & Galleries Queensland.
The sculpture, Acknowledgement to Kabi Kabi Country, was supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland including through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). The sculpture was further supported by Abbey Museum Friends, Creative Australia Plus 1, Baillie Family Foundation (Hayley & James Baillie) and Blue Sky View.