Historically regional galleries in New South Wales have developed outside the state capital through the aspirations and hard work of collectors, educators, artists, benefactors and those who appreciate the value of engaging with the visual arts and crafts in their everyday lives. Heritage buildings were renovated and disused commercial real estate was refurbished in towns and cities dotted across New South Wales from 1904 when Broken Hill City Art Gallery, the first regional gallery in the state was opened by the Governor General of Australia, to the mid 1980s.

For many regional and remote communities this was an opportunity to bring the visual and associated arts from across Australia, encouraging arts practice, education and exchange to foster and thrive away from the major centres. Rather than replicate the function of major state art museums, regional communities, with state and local government assistance, were encouraged to establish art museums with a specialist, and where possible, unique collecting focus (for Wagga glass and prints) and to foster and promote the work of local artists.

Since 1975 Wagga Wagga Regional Art Gallery (formerly Wagga Wagga City Art Gallery) has been presenting exhibitions that include works of art by prominent and often revered Australian artists alongside exhibitions that focus on the work of artists who live in the city and region.

In February 1999 the Gallery relocated to a new facility within the architect designed Civic Centre. The Melbourne based architects, Garner Davis won the international competition from a field of 132 entries that included designs from England, Japan, Hong Kong, Europe and the USA. Three times the size and inspiring in layout and spatial orientation the exhibition spaces enable large scale, multimedia and contemporary work to be viewed at their greatest advantage, and concurrently support the exhibition of more delicate and sensitive works of art.

Initially scheduled for exhibition prior to the move, we have great pleasure in presenting Transference in the Temporary Exhibition Space (Lower Floor) of the new Gallery. This exhibition seeks to acknowledge and provide access to the work of nine artists from the region, working in a range of disciplines.

These artists combine substantial careers as practitioners with lecturing and tutoring at the School of Visual and Performing Arts, Charles Sturt University. Their work is not of a school of ideas or geographical and environmental influence, but rather reflects individually the influence, or not, of location. Personal issues,
concepts and experiences that touch us all, and the often complex relationship between material and form, when pushing boundaries, are explored and offered up for others to experience and respond.

In realising this exhibition we owe thanks to Chris Mullins and Terri Hall for re-presenting the concept for development and to the artists for their participation. We thank guest curator, Neill Overton and writer, Ross Woodrow for their insights and engaging contributions to the catalogue, and Joanne Delzoppo (Exhibitions Curator) for managing all aspects of the project.

The New South Wales Government Ministry for the Arts' support of our programs through the Visual Arts and Crafts Annual Grant Program, and the ongoing support of Wagga Wagga City Council is acknowledged, with gratitude.

Louise Doyle
Gallery Manager