Council to develop biennial Fraser Coast National Art Prize

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Hervey Bay Library

Artists across Australia will have the opportunity to exhibit in a revamped Hervey Bay Regional Gallery as part of a biennial ‘Fraser Coast National Art Prize’ being developed by Council.

Mayor George Seymour said he expected the Fraser Coast National Prize to attract quality entries from Australian artists with the main prize to be valued at $25,000.

“The Fraser Coast has a colourful and vibrant cultural life, and Council is keen to ensure our community values its arts, heritage and cultural diversity,” he said.

“We want the gallery to be a place of consequence in our community that is known for its standard of excellence across its exhibitions, programs and supporting operations.

“The Hervey Bay Regional Gallery is about to undergo a major rebuild and will re-open in late 2021 or early 2022 with improved exhibition spaces and a renewed operational direction in line with stakeholder and community feedback.

“We anticipate that entries for the Fraser Coast National Art Prize would open in late 2021 or early 2022 with the inaugural prize exhibition to be a mid-year feature of re-opening programs in 2022.”

Cr David Lewis said Council had taken the opportunity to develop a new Hervey Bay Regional Gallery Strategic Plan while the gallery had been closed due to significant failure of the air conditioning and climate control systems, which required extensive cleaning and repair works.

“Council is developing a new draft strategic plan following stakeholder consultation, and will be seeking community feedback with an online survey opening on Monday 17 May,” he said

“A dedicated ‘Arts and Culture’ page has been established on Council’s ‘Engagement Hub’ website  - https://frasercoast.engagementhub.com.au/arts-culture- which will outline opportunities for the community to stay informed and have a say on the roll-out of arts projects and strategies.

“We encourage everyone to visit the new web page to get involved and help shape the future focus of the regional art gallery.”

The refurbishment of the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery is a joint initiative of Council and the Queensland Government with $400,000 from the State Government’s COVID Works for Queensland program provided to undertake the works.