Five decades of success for the Lower Clarence Arts and Crafts Association (LCACA) will be celebrated with the official opening of two new exhibitions at the Grafton Regional Gallery. A vibrant assortment of new works from the association’s artists, who have responded to the Lower Clarence landscape, went on display last week in the main gallery and a selection of works from the Clarence Valley Council’s Lower Clarence collection will be on display in Prentice House. They celebrate the LCACA’s ongoing cultural contribution to the arts in the Clarence Valley. The Lower Clarence Community Fine Arts Collection was established in 1984. This collection includes timber and metal sculptures, drawings, paintings, prints and ceramics. The artworks in the collection were acquired up to February 2004 through direct acquisition, donation or through the Maclean Shire Acquisitive Prize of the annual Lower Clarence Arts & Crafts Prize. The prize was and continues to be presented by the Lower Clarence Arts and Crafts Association (LCACA). From 1984 to 1993 artworks were selected from the prize exhibition by its various judges; and from 1994 to 2003 the artworks were selected by the mayor and the general manager of the Maclean Council. The Clarence Valley Council, formed in 2004, has continued to sponsor the acquisitive award. The acquired works are selected by the mayor of the Council and the Grafton Regional Gallery director. The LCACA Jubilee: Artists and Landscapes of the Lower Clarence was curated by Maclean-based artist and active LCACA member, Malcolm King. The weavers, potters, jewellers, woodworkers, sculptors, glass artists and painters have presented an impressive display of diverse artworks that all link to the Lower Clarence environment. Gallery director, Jude McBean, said the gallery was happy to present the two exhibitions, which are part of a series of four by the gallery. “They demonstrate the LCACA’s resilience and involvement in the community’s culture,” she said.