Your Gallery

Guudji yiigu, yii Biripi barray, yii Gathang-guba barray

These are the words of the Biripi people from the Gathang speaking nation, the language spoken throughout the Mid North Coast by the Worimi, Biripi and Gurrigay people. The Manning Regional Art Gallery acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land we live, work and gather on, the Biripi People, and we pay our respects to elders past, present and future.

The Gallery, based in Taree, is a vibrant cultural hub which nurtures artistic practice and fosters community engagement within the arts. MidCoast Council recognises the value of creative communities, and through strategic planning we strive to be recognised as a place of unique environmental and cultural significance. Our strong community connection innovative development and growing economy, builds the quality of life we value − unique, diverse and culturally rich communities. The Gallery presents a diverse exhibition program throughout the year showcasing, emerging and established artists, group and solo shows and high profile touring shows. 

Artists featured on the front windows of the Gallery

Ali Haigh  

Rod Spicer        Distant Fires oil on canvas

Zoe Tweedale      Piccolo oil on canvas

Michael Simms      Chloe Zuel oil on canvas

Rod Spicer

Stephen Michael King detail from Pea Pod Lullaby

Peter Schouten r Antarctic dinosaurs, Cryolophosaurus and Glacialisaurus  watercolour and gouache on Arches paper. Features in new book "Prehistoric Australasia" CSIRO Publications (due for publication April 2023)

Rachel Piercy basket  lomandra, owl feathers

Leonie Reisberg black and white photograph

Steve Williams  - photograph by Tess Kerbel

Jane Hosking  Trevor the Messiah 2018  mixed media

The Manning Regional Art Gallery is a cultural facility of MidCoast Council.

Contact the Gallery

12 Macquarie Street, Taree (opp. Service NSW office)
Phone: 02 6592 5455
Fax: 02 6592 5450
Email: [email protected]

Find us

Gallery Opening Hours

Opening hours 

Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm 

Closed Sundays, Mondays and Public holidays.   

Group bookings + Venue Hire

Education Programs

The Manning Regional Art Gallery is committed to providing high quality education programs which engage, educate and inform students of all ages and abilities about art, artists and the Gallery sector. Every year the Gallery offers an extensive exhibition program of high quality international, national and local exhibitions, incorporating touring shows. The Gallery is a fantastic learning environment with an outstanding art studio, outdoor undercover art space and large exhibition spaces.

Professional Development

The Gallery offers professional development for teachers and educators, great events to meet other teachers and build skills for the classroom.

Self guided tour (free)

Admission to the Gallery is free, so educators and groups are encouraged to co-ordinate self-guided free visits. The Gallery can support teachers in the planning and preparation of a visit by providing education kits, activity ideas or discussion topics, relevant to each exhibition.

Custom Tour (fee paying)

If there is a particular specialised topic or art workshop teachers want their students to experience, our art educators can provide relevant information and experiences that help stimulate discussion and broaden interest in the art world.

Bookings are required in advance please contact the Gallery on [email protected] or (02) 6592 5455. 

The Gallery has a responsibility to protect the artworks under its care during an exhibition. It is the Teacher or Group Leader’s responsibility when in the Gallery to supervise, oversee the general behaviour of group members and intervene when necessary.

VENUE HIRE - 

Support the Gallery

Friends of the Manning Regional Art Gallery

The Friends of the Manning Regional Art Gallery (FOGs) is an independent, voluntary, not for profit organisation committed to supporting and developing the Manning Regional Art Gallery and the growth of the visual arts in the Manning Valley. Some of our members are practising artists while others are not. We have no paid officials and have relied on the generosity of volunteers, sponsors and donors for over 25 years
The Friends work in conjunction with the FOGs Art Fund Trust, administered by three independent trustees - Dr Philip Walkom Gallery Patron, Paul Stack Managing Director Stacks Finance and Shane Crellin, Chartered Accountant.  The FOGS Art Fund Trust has Deductible Gift Recipient status and donations are tax deductible, being used to support the  Manning Regional Art Gallery, the Manning Art Prize and promote the visual arts in our community. Approximately 100 FOGs volunteers work at the Gallery, in reception and retail, unpacking and organising artworks, installing and dismantling exhibitions, assisting with the organisation of and catering for exhibition openings and other events, and grounds maintenance.

2018 Friends of the Manning Regional Art Gallery Committee:

FOGS welcomes new volunteers who assist the Gallery in the following ways;

• staff the welcome desk
• retail sales in the Gallery shop
• ‘hanging parties’ for the installation of exhibitions
• catering for opening nights
• working bees to maintain the Gallery grounds

For more information about FOGs, including membership application forms and please visit the new The Friends website

Become a Volunteer

Have the opportunity to engage in the cultural life of the Manning Regional Art Gallery by joining the volunteer team. As a volunteer you have the chance to contribute to valuable visitor services, learn more about the Manning Regional Art Gallery and its activities and be a part of a large friendly team.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please complete the Volunteer registration form below. We will keep your details on file and contact you for an interview when the opportunities become available. 

Go to the Council website to complete an expression of interest form here

Naked & Nude Art Prize Sponsor

The Naked & Nude Art Prize of $37,000 is raised completely through community donations to the Friends of the Gallery.  

Gallery Collection

The Manning Regional Art Collection is one of 30 regional collections in the state and holds more than 320 works. it is an important cultural asset for the community of the MidCoast.

The Majority of works have been donated to the collection through the Frank Saxby Bequest, The Friends of the Manning Regional Art Gallery via the acquisitive Manning Art Prize, personal donations of artworks from community members and donations by artists.

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 the then Town Clerk, the late Clyde Powditch MBE. From 1976, the Art Show was supported by Council and organised by the Mid North Coast Art Society (now known as Taree Artist Inc), yet the tradition of holding it in the carpark continued until 1987.  This collection has grown since 1955 into a strong portfolio of work 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. Through this program, the Manning Regional Art Gallery has acquired works from a variety of fabulous artists including Judy Cassab, Ken Done, Neil Frazer, and Robert Malherbe.

Gallery Window Art