The prestigious 2020 Archibald Prize has commenced its Regional Tour series in The Tweed, with finalist portraits and prize winners on show until 7 March 2021 at the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre.
Visitors to the Tweed Regional Gallery in Murwillumbah will be the first to see the 2020 Archibald Prize exhibition following its display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, cementing the region’s appeal as a leading destination in regional Australia for arts-inspired getaways.
The Archibald Prize is Australia’s foremost portraiture prize and is a who’s who of Australian culture, from politicians and celebrities to sporting heroes and artists.
The Regional Tour features the Prize’s winning portrait of former professional AFL footballer Adam Goodes by Vincent Namatjira – the first indigenous artist to win the prize in its 99 year history – as well as the People’s Choice award-winner by Northern Rivers artist Angus McDonald of Kurdish-Iranian author, journalist, artist and academic Behrouz Boochani.
The Tweed Regional Gallery Director, Susi Muddiman OAM, said it was a great honour to be the first venue in Australia to host the Regional Tour and to welcome the high profile event to the area.
“To have the 2020 Archibald Prize on show in our Gallery is so exciting, from the stunning prize-winning portraits to many other famous subjects including actor Magda Szubanski, chef Adam Liaw and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.”
“Along with these notable portraits by leading national artists, visitors to our Gallery can also view portraits by budding young local artists in the Young Archie competition, part of our 2020 Archibald Prize family-focused activities.”
The Tweed Regional Gallery is one of Australia’s leading regional galleries, incorporating seven exhibition spaces showcasing the work of regional, national and international artists, and the remarkable Margaret Olley Art Centre, which celebrates the career, life and legacy of Margaret Olley, Australia’s celebrated painter of still life and interiors, with the permanent re-creation of areas of her famous Sydney home studio a highlight for many visitors to the region.
Bradley Nardi, GM of Tweed Tourism Company, said that having the 2020 Archibald Prize in the Tweed was a wonderful opportunity to welcome art-lovers from near and far and to showcase the region’s outstanding arts scene.
“The Tweed Regional Gallery is a significant drawcard for visitors to our region and, as the first location to host the 2020 Archibald Prize outside Sydney, we’re anticipating that many people will make a trip to the Tweed over the coming months to see the exhibition and take time to immerse in all that the region has to offer.”
“Along with our incredible arts spaces, the Tweed is home to talented local artists whose work can be viewed in both galleries and out of working studios, while our food and drink artisan offerings reflect creativity of a different kind, with distilleries, breweries, farms and plantations also giving visitors a great taste of the Tweed.”
A range of Archibald Prize accommodation deals are available at visitthetweed.com.au, from luxury stays at an award-winning coffee plantation or boutique country estate to a peaceful bed and breakfast or family fun park by the beach.
The 2020 Archibald Prize Regional Tour is at the Tweed Regional Gallery from 22 January to 7 March 2021 and is a ticketed exhibition. Tickets can be purchased online at trg-archibald.eventbrite.com.au
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