The City of Fremantle Art Collection presents

Aboveground Belowground is a selection of contemporary and historical artworks drawn from the City of Fremantle Art and Civic Collections.

Providing access to various intersecting points of interpretation and knowledge, the exhibition reflects on the Dreaming origins of the Swan River (Derbarl Yerrigan) and Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) at Fremantle (Walyalup) and its changing landscape, irrevocably accelerated by the expansion of the port.

Collection is back

The City of Fremantle’s Art Collection has returned to its home at the Fremantle Arts Centre.

The history of the Collection is closely linked to the 50-year story of FAC and its role as a national arts organisation. Embedded in Fremantle’s cultural heritage since 1973, FAC audiences have gained meaningful and lasting experiences engaging with the Collection on site.

Through exhibitions and public programming hosted at FAC, the Collection offers audiences a glimpse into the rich tapestry of local artistic practice. The Collection not only traces the work of historical and contemporary local artists, but also serves as a permanent repository for artworks that reflect Fremantle subjects and histories.

The Collection acquires work from artists involved in FAC exhibitions and its Artists in Residence program. This process nurtures relationships with established artists across all artforms within FACs annual program. New audiences also gain insight into these artists and their practice through seminars, publications, exhibitions, and access to the Collection’s database through Collections WA.

The City of Fremantle Art Collection is managed by the City of Fremantle and includes over 1600 artworks with strengths in painting, print media and ceramics.

The Collection is a registered Deductible Gift Recipient with the Cultural Gifts Program and receives donations of artworks while providing a tax deduction to the donor.