and the winner is... Townsville! by Shane Fitzgerald

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DUO MAGAZINE IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH PERC TUCKER REGIONAL GALLERY AND SHANE FITZGERALD, MANAGER GALLERY SERVICES, TOWNSVILLE CITY COUNCIL, IN A SERIES THAT DISCUSSES CURRENT TRENDS, MUSINGS AND INSIGHTS INTO CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ARTS.

AND THE WINNER IS…TOWNSVILLE! I HAVE NEVER PENNED a postscript to an editorial that I have previously published. However, as they say, there is a first time for everything. Late in 2013 you may recall the story entitled Guess Who’s Coming to Town{sville} which discussed the development of the partnership with Gallery Services and the LEGO Group with the exhibition Brick By Brick. Well the exhibition has come and gone and if you didn’t know about the show or visit the exhibition then you are well and truly in the minority with over half of Townsville’s population stepping through the Gallery doors to view firsthand the wonder of this iconic product and its history. Brick By Brick was a phenomenal success with a record attendance of 100,778 visitors, far surpassing the previous exhibition attendance record for the venue and exceeding our annual visitation rates in a single exhibition. It’s fair to say that it’s also exceeded all of our expectations. The exhibition has been a cause for celebration; a coup for the city and a significant boost for the region’s arts and cultural sector. Certainly it has been rewarding for myself and all the staff of Gallery Services to see such enjoyment directly stemming from our efforts in developing the show over the last year and a half. Due to its appeal and success the project has been celebrated in various national forums, applauded by the Queensland Government, captured the imagination of people far and wide including – within the first three days of the exhibition’s display – Gavin MacLeod AKA Captain Stubing from the iconic American television series “The Love Boat” tweeting his support for the project to audiences worldwide.

Visitors flooded into Townsville’s CBD during the exhibition display – some whom haven’t visited our City centre in over two years and traders personally approaching Gallery staff to thank us for this initiative. Brick by Brick has been a whirlwind of success, built on a commitment to community engagement and quality, and reliant on partnerships to best realise the exhibition vision. It’s a whirlwind we intend to experience again in future years, with more popular culture exhibitions in the works knowing that Townsville is on the verge of cultural maturity, that Townsville is a cultural destination and that Townsville can equally challenge the major centres in cultural development as it already does in areas such as sport. But what does this really mean? Brick by Brick has become the most successful single cultural project in regional Queensland history and is equally as successful as the “Blockbuster” projects that are developed by our Nation’s capital cultural centres. During the project’s display period the resulting “activation” of our CBD provided an influx of economic activity, visitation and excitement rarely seen and – perhaps most importantly – the project unequivocally confirmed that the Townsville community supports, appreciates and wants cultural opportunities and accessibility of this calibre right here at home in our region. Now that we have captured the Nation’s attention, only one question remains: What visionary actions will now be undertaken to further validate Townsville in the National consciousness and cement this region as a cultural destination and thus capitalising on the social and economic impacts that such activation and vision would realise for generations to come?

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TOWNSVILLE CITY COUNCIL HAS LAUNCHED A BRAND-NEW ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE AS PART OF THE 2014 THEATRE SEASON WHICH IS SET TO DELIGHT AUDIENCES.

RIVERWAY SESSIONS

AN INTIMATE NIGHT OF ENTERTAINMENT AND FOOD BE ENTERTAINED by some of world’s finest performers whilst enjoying great food and wine during Townsville’s exciting new cabaret season: Riverway Sessions. Focusing on an eclectic mix of entertainers this intimate season places you at its heart with shows that will challenge, entertain and absorb you. In a first for Townsville, Riverway Sessions offers a great night of live entertainment coupled with fine dining in a relaxed setting. Start your evening with a drink at the newly furnished bar and enjoy the pre-show entertainment. Once you move into the cabaret space you will be seated at your table to begin your culinary experience while being taken into the performance around you. Why not get together a group and book a table for a fun night of dining and cabaret and enjoy Townsville’s newest

experience it www.townsville.qld.gov.au

entertainment experience. The cabaret season features a great selection of performances including Harmonious on the 21st of March featuring world renowned harmonica player Antonio Serrano. Audiences will then experience a touch of magic in The Magic Hour on the 13th of June – a gutsy one-woman comedy told with dark humour and soulful song through Helpmann Award winner Ursula Yovich (Australia, Jindabyne, The Secret River). The pace is then wound up with An Evening with Groucho on the 11th of July starring Frank Ferrante as he recreates his New York, London and PBS triumph as the legendary Groucho Marx. The acclaimed vocalist Lior makes a welcome return to Townsville on the 15th of July where both audience and performer share an evening enjoying the connection that

Live

only proximity can offer. We then transport to the Seychelles on the 3rd of September for a night of energetic tropical rhythms with world music star Grace Barbe. Rounding out the Riverway Sessions is Nick Parnell in Vibes Virtuoso on the 10th of October. Celebrated as one of the most exciting vibes players in the world today, Nick makes old music new again, injecting energy into a repertoire that will be an inspiration to all. All shows are performed live at the Riverway Arts Centre from 6pm for a 7pm start. Tickets are $70 for adults and $62 for Concession. For further information and to book simply visit www.ticketshop.com.au or call 07 4727 9797.

> arts > culture > events

Discover Jezzine!

Toad Day Out

5–13 April jezzine barracks, north ward

Sunday 30 March, 8.30am-12pm riverway, thuringowa

Celebrate the official opening of Townsville’s newest public space with a week long program of celebrations. Rediscover the 15 hectare headland park, linking The Strand to Palleranda, enjoy the celebrations with NQ Games Half Marathon, a community 5km fun run, markets, live music and entertainment, guided tours, children’s activities, fitness programs culminating with a massive free concert on the last weekend. Full program details available at council’s website.

Townsville City Council invites you to join Operation: Toad Day Out. Your mission is to capture as many cane toads as you can alive and unharmed and bring them to the rendezvous point on Sunday 30 March at Riverway. Get together with your family, school friends or scout group and organise your very own Operation: Toad Day Out. The event will include prize giveaways, local entertainment, Ranger Dan, face painting, magician, information stalls and a free sausage sizzle.

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DUO MAGAZINE PERCIVAL PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT PRIZE 2014 ENTRIES INVITED Major sponsor DUO Magazine and Pinnacles Gallery are proud to announce that entries are now invited for the inaugural DUO Magazine Percival Photographic Portrait Prize 2014. The exhibition is scheduled to coincide with Perc Tucker Regional Gallery display of the Percival Portrait Painting Prize 2014 in a city-wide celebration of the genre of portraiture, and encourages contemporary and cutting-edge explorations of portraiture by photographers from around the nation. The DUO Magazine Percival Photographic Portrait Prize 2014 offers a $10,000 major acquisitive prize, with the winning work entering the DUO Magazine private collection. To enter, please carefully read the Conditions of Entry and complete the Entry Form which you can download at: www.townsville.qld.gov.au/facilities/galleries/pinnacles/ pages/percivalphotographic.aspx

KEY DATES 2014 Deadline for entries Friday 28 March 2014 Pre-selection outcome notification By Friday 04 April 2014 Artwork delivery 9am – 4pm Tuesday 29th April 2014 Launch and announcement of winners Friday 16 May Exhibition on display 10th May – 13 July 2014 Artwork Pickup 9am – 4pm Wednesday 16 July 2014