The opening of the Cairns Regional Gallery was an exciting culmination
of years of planning and fund-raising by the wider community of the
Cairns district.
Housed in the refurbished Public Office Building, the beautifully
proportioned and graceful building took on a new lease of life in 1995,
rapidly becoming a well-loved focus for tropical artists of the region.
On-going programmes include broad ranging exhibitions from Australian
artists, as well as a community exhibition programme for local groups
and individuals, with a strong emphasis on Torres Strait and aboriginal
artwork.
Visiting lecturers and artists’ floor talks are part of
a comprehensive education programme, which includes art classes for
adults and children.
Local artists are encouraged to exhibit in
the Loft space at the top of the building, a small space which is
suitable for solo and small group exhibitions. Usually an exhibition
includes an artist's talk and sometimes workshops during the length of
its display.
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Naturally, the focus of the gallery is strongly on artwork from the
tropical north, particularly aboriginal art and that from the unique
cultures of the Torres Strait islands bordering Papua New Guinea.
The gallery's visual arts collection policy bears this out with
significant representation from Aboriginal and Torres Strait
communities, some of whose members are urbanised and live in the Cairns
region. The gallery collection includes important work by Australian and
international artists.
Cairns Regional Gallery
has a well stocked shop where visitors may purchase production work, some from local artists as well as that from artists
living in other Australian regions.
An active Friends of the Gallery association assists with further
fundraising and brings a sense of involvement to its members as well as
providing practical benefits to them.
Much may be learnt about a country from observing the culture of its
people so a visit to the gallery is highly recommended to visitors.
Enjoy!
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