The state-of-the-art Banana Shire Regional Art Gallery, Queensland, celebrates its 5th birthday in August and to commemorate this exciting milestone a special exhibition and weekend of free activities have been planned.
Mayor, Nev Ferrier, said the celebration was about more than just the art gallery.
“It is a celebration of the local art community, the volunteers who help run the gallery and the members of the Biloela Art Gallery Committee who worked for many years to gather a collection of art work and then lobbied for a building suitable to store and exhibit their collection.”
Banana Shire Arts and Cultural Officer, Shanna Muston has managed the gallery for four of its five years and says its opening has made a big difference to cultural pursuits in the Shire.
“It has been rewarding to see how having a professional institution in the area has challenged our local artists to grow their practice.
“It has provided more opportunities for them to meet other artists and professionals through the gallery’s exhibitions and public programming.
“The gallery has developed a base of regular and loyal visitors and every year the number of people who pop into the gallery to take in the different exhibitions has grown.
The gallery, officially opened 2 August, 2013, was built alongside the new Banana Shire Council Administration Centre in Biloela, and was made possible with additional funding provided by Santos.
It is fully funded and operated by the Banana Shire Council with a dedicated staff member and volunteer team.
The gallery provides a vibrant program of both local and touring exhibitions, public programming and events and storage and management of the Banana Shire Art collection which has grown to over 360 artworks, with a focus on the collection of work by local and Central Queensland artists.
