One of the most iconic and historical landmarks will celebrate their highly anticipated reopening to the Clarence Valley community by hosting an opening weekend on March 20 and 21. Entitled Celebrate the Magic of the Clarence – Grafton Regional Gallery Opening Weekend, the event will signify the completion of several months of continuous construction and refurbishment to create new space and infrastructure. Niomi Sands, director of Grafton Regional Gallery is eagerly looking forward to welcoming visitors through the doors of the much-loved location and said the upcoming weekend is an exciting time. “It will be wonderful to open the gallery to the community once again,” she said. “People have been waiting a long time, we thank them for their patience, and we’re excited to show our brand-new contemporary space with a series of fantastic exhibits.” Proudly supported by Create NSW and The Gallery Foundation, the opening weekend will be full of creative fun with visitors able to experience the magic art can deliver. An official ribbon cutting ceremony and exhibition opening by dignitaries will be held on March 19 while the general public are invited to weekend events commencing on Saturday including artists in residence, creative workshops, food and drink trucks, DJ’s and artists talks. Exhibitions opening on the weekend include the following: River to the Sea: An exhibition of contemporary Australian landscapes featuring Sophie Cape, Steve Lopes, Euan Macleod, Robert Moore, Frances Belle Parker, Amanda Penrose Hart, Deborah Taylor, and Ann Thomson The project explores our connection to place, and the natural environment, as well as providing a new perspective of the Clarence Valley. Unwrapping: Desire, Allure and the Culture of Single Use Plastic. This is an exciting installation and the fruition of a 12-month collaboration with Goldberg Aberline artists Maurice Goldberg and Matthew Aberline. Unwrapping engages with the Clarence Valley community to break down our complex relationship with plastics, raising awareness and tackling our urgent environmental issues. Our Place: Celebrating the Clarence Our Place celebrates the Clarence Valley and the creativity of the local community. Participants of all ages and skill levels have been invited to share their experiences of living in the region. Featuring two-dimensional works across all mediums, Our Place: Celebrating the Clarence emphasises the talent of Clarence locals. Select: Recent Acquisitions to the Collection Celebrating the opening of the new gallery in 2021 with an exhibition of recent additions to the collection. Over the past two years, the acquisition program has focused on works that celebrate contemporary drawing, supporting local creativity and creating a wider context for existing artworks in the collection. The exhibitions will run between March 20 and April 18. Bookings are required and numbers are limited. All events and exhibitions are Covid-19 safe and free. To register, please visit http://bit.ly/OPENINGWEEKENDEVENTS