City of Fremantle Partnership

In 1997, the Department of Culture and the Arts and the City of Fremantle formed a partnership to loan and display a range of beautiful artworks in the offices at the Law Chambers Building on Hay Street.

With over 26 artworks currently exhibited, including prints, drawings, watercolours and photographs, this partnership enables City of Fremantle artworks to be exhibited to staff and visitors, and provides a spark of creativity and colour to the office environment. The partnership engages the City of Fremantle curator to monitor and manage a rotating collection.

Following the closure of the Fremantle Art Gallery in 1987, the City of Fremantle has employed a number of strategies to facilitate the public's access to the Collection. Consisting of over 1000 works including paintings, prints, drawings, ceramics, photographs and sculpture, it promotes the creative talents of Western Australia’s finest established and emerging artists. 

Loans to local and interstate Museums and touring exhibitions enable wider public contact with the artworks.  In 2008, the collection celebrates its 50 year anniversary.

The Golden Anniversary of the City of Fremantle Art Collection (1958-2008) will be marked with the publication of a collection book and a major touring exhibition to regional venues in WA titled Fertile Soil opening at the Fremantle Arts Centre in October 2008.

Fertile Soil celebrates the rich diversity and quality of art held in the City’s Collection. Highlights the work of 21 leading Fremantle artists, who have made an important contribution to the visual arts culture in the city since 1973.

Further information on the collection, its history and current exhibitions is available at the City of Fremantle Art Collection website.