Memorial for Gary Cleveland AM, 19th November 2020

A public memorial service to honour our Founder, the late Gary Cleveland AM (1930–2020) was held at Design Tasmania on Thursday, November 19th, 2020.

A recording of the service is available to view by clicking here.

From our Executive Director Claire Beale:

"Today we celebrate the invaluable contribution of our late founder Gary Cleveland whose life work established the foundation, principle and mission for Design Tasmania as we know it.

We will be hearing from a selection of speakers whose professional as well as personal lives have been touched by the legacy of Gary Cleveland.

Bianca Welsh, Chair of Design Tasmania’s Board, will speak to the living legacy of Gary Cleveland in our organisation.

Following on will be long-time Design Tasmania supporter, Scott Dawkins representing the Design Centre Trust.

Pippa Dickson, Director of Asialink Arts, former chair of our organisation as well as a designer in her own right, will speak to the personal and professional mentorship she enjoyed with Gary.

Launceston City Councillor Andrea Dawkins and board member at Design Tasmania will share with us about the impact Gary has had on the great city of Launceston and the lasting influence he has on our culture and strategy for the region.

We will then hear from Rick Leplastrier and David Travalia as they recall the architectural feat that was bringing the Gary Cleveland Galleries into existence in collaboration with the man himself.

Designer Toby Muir Wilson will then speak to experiences of working with Gary and how his vision for the industry on our island impacted designers, makers and their design practices.

We will close with Grace Cochrane speaking about Gary’s contribution and legacy.

May Gary Cleveland’s dream and vision for a great design community in Tasmania continue to live on in us all. Vale Gary."

Members of the community are encouraged to contact Design Tasmania should they wish to acquire a digital copy of the event transcript.