Multimillion dollar gift for UTAS
Donation from alumnus and philanthropist
The University of Tasmania is celebrating a multimillion dollar donation from alumnus and philanthropist Geoffrey Tyler and his wife Frances.
The gift of art as well as a $1 million donation will establish The Tyler Collection and Fund with the first of some 600 pieces of art currently on display at the Plimsoll Gallery at the School of Art in Hobart.
The Collection has been amassed over many years by Mr Tyler, who graduated from UTAS in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science.
The collection includes a prized early work by Arthur Boyd from 1949, a piece by Leonard French and an elegant set of engravings by William Blake which date back to 1825.
The collection also includes many mixed media works by the late Corneliu Petrescu, a Romanian artist who was a close friend of Mr Tyler.
UTAS Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Rich, said the donation is very welcome and an extremely generous gift.
“Philanthropy of this nature is applauded and respected by the University community,” he said.
“In particular, an art collection of this stature helps UTAS be a vibrant institution, leading in its education of quality graduates and its research. Gifts of this kind support and promote the qualities of excellence, innovation and participation to which the University aspires.”
Professor Rich said the University has two very fine Art Schools, the Tasmanian School of Art in Hobart and the Academy of the Arts in Launceston.
“As well as our dedication to the study and production of fine art, the University displays- rather than stores - art from our University art collection very proudly in our hallways, lecture theatres, classrooms and offices and our graduates continue to add to the social and economic fabric of the broader community,” Prof Rich said.
“This very generous donation is most welcome and the University graciously thanks Mr and Mrs Tyler for choosing Geoffrey’s alma mater to be the custodians of their wonderful art collection.”
The Tyler Collection is currently on display at the Plimsoll Gallery, at the UTAS Tasmanian School of Art, Hunter Street, Hobart. Gallery hours: 12 noon to 5pm daily.
Photo, left to right: Mr Geoffrey Tyler, Mrs Frances Tyler and Mr Mark Bennett, Director of Development and Alumni at UTAS.