Art News

Life Starts At 50

Lismore Regional Art Gallery is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month with an exhibition of prominent artworks from the permanent collection.

Hal Missingham, the director of the Art Gallery of NSW, officially opened the Lismore Regional Art Gallery in 1954, where he judged and announced the winners of the Annual City of Lismore Art Trust Purchase Exhibition.

The winning entries in this competition were purchased annually over the next 50 years and are now the basis of a permanent collection that contains more than 400 artworks.

"It is exciting to see our Gallery celebrating 50 years as a prominent venue for the arts in Lismore," Lismore's mayor, Merv King, said. "This is an opportunity to reflect on all the great work that has been done by the many artists, volunteers and staff who have made a contribution to the Gallery."

The Lismore Regional Art Gallery now stages a Living Regional Treasures Award each year that recognises those things that are of value to the community. People such as doctors, farmers, teachers, journalists, artists and environmentalists have been the subject of artworks submitted to the award. Other topics have also included local businesses or significant places in the landscape, such as rainforests, and each year the winning entry becomes a new addition to the permanent collection.

A limited edition catalogue detailing important moments in the Gallery's history is available as part of this special 50th anniversary exhibition. It is on show until March 27.