Programs In Focus

Functions / Events / Social Activities

A host of diverse functions, events, and social activities have been staged by Gallery Services, and within Gallery Services’ venues, throughout 2013/2014 to increase community engagement, enjoyment, and to mark significant events and milestones.

In late August 2013, Strand Ephemera was officially opened with an open air event on The Strand. Hosted by ABC local radio personality Paula Tapiolas and attended by over 300 guests, the evening featured entertainment by local musician Amy Zaghini, and a performance by drum circle group Wassa Rhythms of West Africa. The launch set the festival off in the right spirit, particularly for the host of participating artists in attendance who had travelled from all corners of the country to fully experience Strand Ephemera

Each major exhibition held at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery during 2013/2014 has also been marked with a launch event, providing the community an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the artists on display. On numerous occasions, Gallery Services has coupled these launches with entertainment or programs that have allowed greater access to the artists and their works.

Perhaps the most momentous instance of such programming was the Inaugural Philip Bacon Guest Lecture, which was held to coincide with the launch of the major exhibition To the Islands This landmark program, delivered thanks to the generosity of Philip Bacon AM, provides unprecedented access to some of the art sector’s most knowledgeable and influential figures. In 2013, the first Philip Bacon Guest Lecture, entitled Locating a new horizon for QAGOMA, was delivered by Chris Saines, who had only months previously started in the role of the Gallery’s Director, having previously been the Director of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki from 1996-2013.

The opening of the 2013 ArtNOW and Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art North Queensland Regional Exhibition netted a number of quality outcomes.

Fostering the professional development of our region’s young leaders, the event was hosted by participating students nominated by the Queensland Art Teacher’s Association, a role which included the delivery of a Welcome to Country Address.

2014’s The Percivals city-wide celebration of portraiture saw a cluster of launches and events, including the prize announcement of the $40,000 Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Prize, which attracted in excess of 700 guests, undoubtedly the reporting period’s busiest event. This was followed the next day by a judge’s floor talk and a lecture from the exhibition’s judge Angus Trumble, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, and the following week by the launch and prize announcement of the DUO Magazine Percival Photographic Portrait Prize, attracting in excess of 300 guests. Both launch events were gala affairs, and featured entertainment by the talented local string quartet, Domina Quartet.

Adding to the intensity of activity in this period, a reception was held at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery for His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. The invitational event attracted the city’s dignitaries, and the Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Prize provided an appropriate setting to showcase the sophistication of our region as the Governor-General commenced his visit.

With the launch of Gallery Services’ combined membership program, Friends of the Galleries, occurring in 2013/2014, social functions for this select group of arts lovers have also commenced. The range and quality of functions, events, and social activities held by Gallery Services in 2013/2014 – of which those discussed are just a small selection – are reflective of Gallery Services’ intent to provide quality community engagement opportunities and entertainment options, as set out in the Visual Arts Strategy. The appreciative crowds at these events is evidence of both the importance and success of this strategy.

1. Townsville Artists Market, Riverway Arts Centre

2. Seeing sea creatures in plastic bags workshop with artist Nicole Potgieter, Townsville Seafood Festival, Flinders Street 2013

3. Councillor Colleen Doyle inspecting portrait with artist Barabra Cheshire as part of The Percivals

4. Councillor Colleen Doyle, Francis Giacco [winner of the Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Prize], Angus Trumble, Director National Portrait Gallery and Daniel Christie, Manager Glencore Port Operations at the launch of the 2014 Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Prize, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery

5. School students undertaking a guided tour of Strand Ephemera 2013

6. Ross Searle, Curator of To the Islands: exploring works created by artists on Dunk, Bedarra and Timana Islands between the 1930s and 1990s ex hibition floortalk, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery

7. In Conversation with Dr Douglas Kagi and Eric Nash, Curator Gallery Services, as part of the exhibition Tim Maguire: The Douglas Kagi Gift

8. Chris Saines, Director Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art conducting the Inaugural Philip Bacon Annual Guest Lecture, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery