He describes it as a wonderful asset which the whole Clarence Valley community should be excited about and make time to visit, and according to Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis, a $50000 grant to Clarence Valley Council is proof that the Grafton Regional Gallery is one of the most artistically elite facilities in NSW.
Recently reopened to the public following the completion of a $7.6 million refurbishment funded through the Nationals in Government’s Regional Cultural Fund, Grafton Regional Gallery is “on par with the much-celebrated Tweed Gallery” which Mr Gulaptis describes as “a remarkable achievement.”
The latest funding is for InlandSee, a three-year program which consists of artists in residence and survey exhibitions that demonstrate the cultural viability and importance of Grafton Regional Gallery in a national contemporary visual art context. This project includes a substantial showcase of recent work that highlights the current practice of 54 artistic voices from across the state. Grafton Regional Gallery Director Niomi Sands said the team is very excited by the news of the success of their application for the InlandSee project. Ms Sands said it will allow the gallery to bring the work of outstanding NSW artists to the region.
“The project will support the creation of new work through a residency program and showcase the work of emerging and established artists,” she said.
“It will provide wonderful creative experiences that we can share with our community and promote cultural tourism to the region.
“We are very excited to be working with Create NSW to support the development of outstanding arts and cultural activity in regional NSW and we’re eager to get started on the InlandSee project.”
Mr Gulaptis said local arts and cultural spaces are the lifeblood of the Clarence Valley, making a vital contribution to the liveability of the region and driving a sense of community and enjoyment of our everyday lives. He added he is looking forward to visiting Grafton Regional Gallery on numerous occasions to experience their upcoming projects, exhibitions and programs, made possible through the NSW Government’s 2021/22 LGA arts and cultural funding round.