'Religious Leader' by Leonard French, part of the Ken Hinds European paintings collection
Late last year the Sunshine Regional Council agreed to set up a trust that would protect and display locally the Ken Hinds collection of Australian paintings, indigenous art, sculpture, film, pottery and toys dating back to 1860. Retired engineer and Mt Mellum resident, Ken Hinds has been assembling his remarkable collection for more than 30 years and Deputy Mayor, Tim Dwyer said the collection “was big enough to become a tourist drawcard for the region” a view shared by Mayor Bob Abbot who made the following statement to the Hinterland Times:
“I think the Ken Hinds collection is a national, as much as a local treasure. It’s a collection of art like no other in a sense that it’s almost an historical pageant of some of our major Australian artists. It is a collection that draws to the attention of the national community the growth in the ability and creativity of many Australian artists that is not only valuable for us to put on show, but for future creative industries, arts and education programs to learn from. The collection can raise the cultural awareness of communities right across the nation. Because it is a very unique collection we’ve got a lot of work to do to secure it for the Sunshine Coast and to present it to the nation. And that’s a massive job, way beyond the physical resources and fiscal resources of this Council. It needs a lot of trust and support from philanthropical organisations to eventually realise the benefits of this collection.”
Bob Abbot, Mayor – Sunshine Coast Regional Council December, 2008
“Across Country” a generous slice of the Hinds aboriginal art collection is on show at the Caloundra Regional Art Gallery until Sunday January 18.
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