THE GIFT OF GIVING
Benalla Art Gallery has relied on generations of community generosity and giving. From the visionary donations of Mr Laurence Ledger MBE to the transformational bequest of Mrs Gladys Bennett. A bequest or endowment allows you to make a gift to the Benalla Art Gallery that you may not be able to give during your lifetime.
Bequests can be made as pledges during your lifetime, or in memory of a family member or friend. Held in Trust by the Benalla Art Gallery Foundation, bequests may be fully spent on a stated purpose or may be endowed (for all time) from which funds are drawn on annually for the stated purpose. In some situations, bequest gifts are pooled with the Benalla Art Gallery Foundation Corpus.
If you would like to hear more about making a bequest or to receive the documentation required to make a commitment in your Will, please contact our staff at donations@bagf.org.au or contact our Philanthropy Manager on 0404 846 202.
Ceramicist Lorna Hobbs presents works at a local artists Gallery Shop event, 2023
TWO TRANSFORMATIONAL GIFTS
In 1972, Laurence (Laurie) Ledger MBE, Erma Ledger and their farming enterprise ‘Wooleen’ were major benefactors to the Gallery, donating works that formed the backbone of the Benalla Art Gallery Collection and contributing significantly to the cost of the Benalla Art Gallery building located, as it still is today, on the shore of Lake Benalla in the Botanical Gardens. Ledger described his aspirations in which he ‘…had hoped that the gallery and its collection would give untold pleasure to the people within the North-east region and to countless passing tourists…’
Toward the end of 1996, the Benalla Art Gallery received a second transformational bequest from Gladys Bennett comprising 15 artworks and a significant contribution of $1 million to be used for the purchase of artworks supplementing the original Ledger Bequest. This Bequest enabled the Galley to acquire works by key artists to extend and augment the original Ledger Collection, thus creating an increased sense of continuity and completion both historically and stylistically, and developing new strengths in contemporary art.
Arthur Streeton,
Impression for Golden Summer 1888 oil on canvas, later mounted on composition board.
29.6 x 58.7 cm; 52.4 x 81.2 x 4.0 cm framed
Gift of Wooleen Pty. Ltd., 1980,
1980.34.
Benalla Art Gallery Collection