Tony Preston bequest

Support to provide greater access to FUMA’s treasure trove

A love of art has inspired Flinders University graduate Tony Preston to leave a bequest in his Will to the Flinders University Museum of Art.

Tony Preston (BA ’71, DipEd ’75) has spent his professional and personal life intrinsically involved in art. At Flinders University he studied a Bachelor of Arts followed by a Diploma of Education, before becoming education officer at the Art Gallery of South Australia, then chief education officer at the National Gallery of Victoria.

In 1995 he was appointed director of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery in Christchurch, New Zealand, with the added responsibility and opportunity of establishing the Christchurch Art Gallery.

In 2003 Tony became founding director of the award-winning public art museum, before returning to Melbourne five years later to join one of Australia’s leading fine art auction houses, Deutscher and Hackett, in the roles of corporate collections development and senior art specialist.

Now retired, Tony wants to ensure that his lifelong involvement of celebrating and supporting art can endure through his bequest to the Flinders University Museum of Art (FUMA).

‘I remember my Flinders University years with great pleasure. There was a sense that anything was possible – we had both the freedom to pursue our dreams and the opportunity to attain our goals,’ says Tony.

‘The result of this unique educational experience was my good fortune to have a remarkably rewarding life involved with art and, in appreciation, I now want to provide help in a practical way.’

The FUMA collection is unique in Australia for bringing together four major collection areas: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art; European prints; Post-object and documentation art; and Australian political prints and posters.

It’s a treasure trove of more than 8,000 works that Tony wants to see developed and utilised to its maximum potential.

Tony Preston represented by Archibald Prize winner Yvette Coppersmith.

Yvette Coppersmith, Anthony Preston, oil on linen, 40.5cm x 30cm, 2014

‘I greatly admire what director Fiona Salmon and the FUMA team do. I’m very impressed by their programs, but to continue this work they need support – and it gives me real pleasure to be providing that through my bequest.’

With his decision to plan for the future through a bequest, Tony joins a league of supporters who believe in the power of education to transform lives, and that the best educational resources should be accessible to students from all backgrounds and means.

The Art Museum provides an essential resource for Indigenous studies across a range of subjects at the University. The collections also support topics in Media Studies, Visual Art, Drama and Social Work, as well as a powerful Object-based Learning program in Medicine.

In the past year the digitisation of cultural collections, virtual exhibitions and web-based public programs has enabled greater access to one of the largest university art collections in Australia.

Tony’s bequest will help to ensure FUMA’s success as an essential resource – both digital and in-person - for students, researchers and the community well into the future.

Leaving a bequest

If you would like to learn more about the Flinders University Museum of Art bequest program please contact: Heidi Warren, Advancement Manager, +61 8 8201 7979 or via email heidi.warren@flinders.edu.au