A CONTRACT for the design, fabrication and installation of two permanent museum exhibitions at the new Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM) has been awarded to Thylacine Design for nearly $1.5 million.

The two permanent museum exhibitions are planned to be the mainstay of Yarrila Arts and Museum at Yarrila Place and will include ‘Stories of Coffs’, a social history exhibition, and the ‘Welcome to Country’ – Gumbaynggirr exhibition.

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Coffs Harbour City councillors have unanimously agreed to accept an offer from Thylacine Design for Permanent Museum Exhibition (design, fabricate and install) services for Yarrila Arts and Museum for the lump sum contract amount of $1,496,000.

Thylacine is a multi-award winning Canberra based design company which specialises in the design and delivery of public environments that connect visitors personally and physically to an experience and story.

Tenders were received by Council from four proponents for the contract.

Council will need to formally confirm the funds for the 2022/23 financial year when that budget is considered by Council next year.

The contract will commence immediately, with production of the permanent ‘Welcome to Country’ exhibition to be prioritised in recognition of its essential role in welcoming visitors to Yarrila Place and it will be completed, along with the Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM) spaces, for the building’s opening in late 2022.

The digital exhibition will be front and centre of the new YAM and will feature an audio-visual presentation to welcome visitors to land, sea and sky country.

Local creative agency Zakpage has been contracted together with Thylacine interpretive design studio to work collaboratively with the Gumbaynggirr community to deliver the ‘Welcome to Country’ exhibition.

“At every stage of the production – from the writing process through to the final edit – Zakpage will co-create with the community and will engage a Gumbaynggirr producer to assist with the consultation and casting of talent to appear in the film,” Gallery and Museum curator Jo Besley said.

The ‘Stories of Coffs’ exhibition will present an overview of the unique history of the Coffs Coast, showcasing the Museum’s collections of historical artefacts, photographs and multimedia resources.

The permanent exhibition will be completed by mid-2023, after the new Yarrila Arts and Museum building is operational.

The permanent exhibition costs do not form part of the $81 million cost for the Yarrila Place building, and are deemed as a separate project by Council.

By Emma DARBIN