The Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award is Grafton Regional Gallery’s flagship art prize and the Friends of Grafton Gallery support this award through membership and fundraising functions.

You are invited to a free morning tea at the Gallery in Fitzroy Street Grafton on Tuesday, October 12 at 10 am to 12 noon to hear Mark speak and spend some time with him.

Born and bred in Grafton, Mark Blackadder left to take on a career in optics at 18. His career quickly expanded into travelling the globe with the powerhouse brand company, Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy. Working for the luxury watch and eyewear brand, TAG Heuer, Mark was part of a team and was responsible for sales portfolios worth millions.

At the end of 2018, Mark decided a change was required and moved back to Grafton to be with family. Falling in love with the Clarence Valley was the best experience for Mark to date and accepting the role with the Grafton Jacaranda Festival was the highlight. 

Mark’s focus along with many like-minded connections is to help build the Clarence Valley to be a safe, harmonious, and accepting community, a place of inclusiveness, where everybody belongs, respect is shown to all people regardless of their race, religion, gender, ethnic background, ability, or age.

The event is free but bookings through Eventbrite are essential.  Just Google ‘Friends of Grafton Gallery Morning Tea Eventbrite’.

Rev Canon Camellia Flanagan