The Moncrieff Entertainment Centre has opened up its foyer to provide an opportunity for local artists to exhibit their work while raising their profile in the region.
In partnership with Bundaberg Art Prize, exhibitions are showcased for six weeks at a time and are available to view between 9 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday.
Arts, Culture and Events portfolio spokesperson Cr John Learmonth said Council was proud to support local artists and their passion.
“We have such a vibrant and thriving art scene and this new space at the Moncrieff is another way we are working towards fostering the community’s creative capacity,” he said.
“I would like to thank the Moncrieff Entertainment Centre staff for utilising their foyer to help support local artists while showcasing the many talents we have right on our doorstep!”
Bundaberg Art Prize President Phil Oakley is thrilled with the initiative and said the Moncrieff space offered up another public area that allowed the community to immerse themselves in local creativity.
“Part of the vision for the Bundaberg Art Prize was to get more people seeing what our local visual artists are creating, which is why we have been holding the Art Prize in various vacant shops in the Bundaberg CBD,” Phil said.
“I see the displays at the Moncrieff as opportunity for people who are coming to see a show or a movie also provided with the chance to view work by local artists that they would not normally get to see.
“It’s a win-win for both the artists and the public.”
Phil said the space at the Moncrieff also opened the door for local artists trying to showcase their work to the public.
“Without holding their own exhibitions, opportunities for local artists to show their work in Bundaberg are fairly limited, so this is a chance to show their work without the hassles of having to be present all the time,” he said.
“We are trying to make it as simple as possible and not over think it so that there is no pressure on the artist, but still give the public a good insight into that particular artist.
“The key factors we are looking for are quality and originality, so people get to see things they might not normally get exposed to.
“It is all about getting more and more people to value the visual arts in all their forms.”
Phil said the funds raised through the initiative would go towards helping to advertise the upcoming Bundaberg Art Prize show.
“Artists in general are often underappreciated and struggle to make money to support their careers, so whilst the Bundaberg Art Prize are taking a small commission on the sales of any artworks our main priority is to support the artists, so most of the funds go to them,” he said.
“Any money the Art Prize makes from this series of exhibitions will go towards promoting the main event in September.
“Even if we can get one extra person to go and see the Art Prize who would not normally have heard about it, that will be a win. “
Local artist Vanessa Christi, who paints under the name of Vanessa Allegra, has already exhibited her work in the space and was delighted to be part of the initiative when the invitation came from Moncrieff manager Paul Dellit.
“I was honoured when Paul asked me to be one of the artists in his new program,” Vanessa said.
“Personally, it’s been a long time since I have built up a body of work like this, and I’m so grateful that Paul’s kind invitation got me back on the brushes.”
Those who are interested in applying to exhibit their work in the space should email bundabergartprize@gmail.com.
Spaces are limited.
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