Friends of Grafton Gallery (FOGG) are pleased to announce special guest Steve Pickering will attend our morning tea on Wednesday October 19 at the Grafton Regional Gallery commencing at 10.30am.

Steve Pickering has been heavily involved in the arts in the Clarence Valley, both as a gallery owner, and before becoming a Clarence Valley Councillor, as a committee member on the Clarence Valley Cultural Committee. As president of Ulmarra Village Inc (the Ulmarra Progress Association), he organised community events which were a fantastic way to bring the community together and encourage youth art during the days of COVID. More recently Steve was part of the inaugural team to bring the Riverlight Ulmarra Lantern Festival to the Clarence Valley.

Steve opened the Coldstream Gallery in the historic river-port village of Ulmarra, with his partner, in 2017. As an advocate for local artists and creatives he realises the importance of the creative arts and associated industries within the Northern Rivers. Steve has been an invited judge at art competitions including the Jacaranda Art Exhibition, Wild about Wooli, the Maclean Show and the Lilli Pilli Art Show, amongst others.

As a first term councillor on the Clarence Valley Council, he wants to strengthen the focus of arts, culture, heritage, environment and youth within the Clarence Valley and Northern Rivers region. The importance or arts and culture in repairing and rebuilding communities can not be underestimated, arts are the glue that joins communities together. As the council delegate to Arts Northern Rivers, he is now a board member and treasurer and encourages a focus on arts and first nations culture on the Clarence Valley.

Christine Lynch