Tamworth Regional Gallery celebrates its Centenary

The Tamworth Regional Gallery is turning 100 this year and Council has agreed that an appropriate celebration of this milestone is in order, endorsing financial assistance that will help the gallery generate a high-quality exhibition to celebrate its Centenary for the entire region and its visitors to enjoy. 

“We are so excited to be able to host the 100 Year Exhibition to celebrate this truly incredible milestone in our regions’ culture”, said Tamworth Regional Gallery Director, Bridget Guthrie. 

It will be a wonderful way to showcase and tribute the originating collections and the donors who brought the gallery to life.”

On 1 June 1919, the then-known Tamworth Art Salon and Art Library first opened its doors, after being gifted 100 artworks and art acquisition books by artist and collector, John Salvana. 

Salvana’s intention was to “encourage art in the country” and promote the work of Australian artists. His donation also included unfinished works, designed to demonstrate how a works of art could be constructed and encourage art-making in the region. 

“The exhibition will take audiences back in time to share the experiences, history and milestones of art in the region from the last century. 

“Touching on strong themes of landscape art, artistic debates between traditional and modernistic artists, the exhibition will acknowledge contributions from Salvana, the Burdekin Bequest and the artistic contribution from the influential Grace Crowley who was a Barraba local,” explained Bridget. 

To-date, the gallery has received funding of $10,450 from the Gordon Darling Foundation and a sponsorship of $5,000 from the University of New England and Council’s financial contribution of $14,550 will be allocated from the general fund. 

To supplement the works in the Tamworth Regional Gallery collection for the exhibition, loans have been obtained by institutions including the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the National Portrait Gallery. Additional works from John Salvana, Margaret Preston, Grace Cossington Smith and Grace Cowley are among the collection. 

“This is just one of many celebrations that will be held over this very special year in the region’s history, so stay tuned and we hope to see you at the exhibition,” added Guthrie. 

The exhibition will open to the public on 1 June 2019 and will be accompanied by a theatrical production from Capitol Theatre, The View from 1919, where John Salvana will come back to life to take the audience on a journey of the establishment and evolvement of Tamworth’s visual art’s collection. 

For more information visit www.tamworthregionalgallery.com.au or contact Gallery Director, Bridget Guthrie on 6767 5225.