Tucked away in Sydney Building’s Verity Lane Market is a pop-up gallery that supports all art forms.

PT. Gallery, named after owner and director Petra Jungmanova, was launched during the Canberra and Region Heritage Festival with a four-day fringe event.

“It was essentially the introductory event giving Canberrans an opportunity to learn about their own town and the stories that are not necessarily known,” Jungmanova told CD.

“And (to learn) that Canberra is not that boring”.

She chose this space because the market was named after Verity Hewitt, who ran a bookshop in the Sydney Building during the Second World War.

Jungmanova said the location of the building was also important.

“I didn’t want to hire a space with walls where I would have to sit there and wait for people to come and hope someone will buy the art — to make a living from that,” she said.

“This is purely a joyful, positive, exciting project because it takes away the pressure and expectations on all these logistical things gallery owners have to face.

“It gives me total creative freedom to engage with all fields of art. And being able to showcase people who would normally find it challenging to find a venue for their art or music, storytelling or poetry.”

She said the aim was to revitalise the culture of heritage buildings.

“In Czech, they use historical buildings for everyday events, even castles,” Jungmanova said.

“It really brings me joy to create something with a positive energy.

“Bringing performers together that don’t normally get together and inviting people who would like to experience art and culture on the lighter side.”

Jungmanova is a Czech Republic-born Australian fine artist, curator, author and publisher.

She said the gallery was also her contribution to Canberra and Australia.

“For being beautiful to me and my son,” Jungmanova said.

She said each pop-up event would be accompanied by a bookshop as a tribute to Hewitt’s pioneering spirit and literary sanctuary during wartime.

To keep up to date with the gallery’s events, visit pt-gallery.com

About the artist, Petra Jungmanova:

Coming from a family rooted in music, performance and community, Jungmanova is the third generation to carry forward a love for culture.

Her father and grandfather were musicians. Her father continues to perform to this day.

On her mother’s side, Jungmanova inherited a deep commitment to cultural heritage, community involvement and philanthropy.

Jungmanova moved to Australia in 2001.

Her professional background includes working on restoration projects in UNESCO cities, volunteering with the National Library of Australia, and exhibiting her work at various venues, including the Sydney Opera House.

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