Women Artists from the Collection
Exhibition dates:8 July - 20 September
The Manning Regional Art Collection includes a long list of Australian women artists. From as early as 1954 to the present day, the work of women artists has featured as the collection grew.
Women artists have won three of our four Naked & Nude Art Prizes; Wendy Sharpe, Dagmar Cyrulla and Laura Matthews.
The history of the collection begins before the Regional Gallery existed, and is a testament to the residents of Taree who are passionate about the arts. The first local government initiated acquisitive Art Prize in this area was conducted by the Taree Municipal Council in the old Council Chambers on the corner of Albert and Manning Streets in 1954. This event was initiated by the late Mary Hunter OAM, with strong support from then Town Clerk, the late Clyde Powditch MBE. The collection has grown into a strong portfolio of over 320 works, which is a significant cultural asset for the MidCoast community. The majority of works since 1988 have been donated to the collection through the Frank Saxby Bequest, The Friends of the Manning Regional Art Gallery via the acquisitive prize of the biennial Manning Art Prize, personal donations of artworks from community members and donations by artists. The Cultural Gifts Program also encourages gifts of culturally significant items to go to public art galleries, museums and libraries by offering donors a tax deduction for the market value of the gift.
Image credit: Jocelyn Maughan Black Head Beach (detail) donated by the artist to the Friends of the Gallery