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.
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 7955 7074
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.
The Gallery welcomes student and special interest group visits throughout the year.
Bookings are required in advance please contact the Gallery on [email protected] or (02) 7955 7074.
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 2024/25 fees and charges can be found on the attached PDF(PDF, 4MB)
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.
2025 Friends of the Manning Regional Art Gallery Committee:
President: Peter Hugill , Vice President: Dusty Walkom, Secretary/Treasurer: Norman Shapro, Membership Officer: Jan Everingham Public Officer: David Denning, Committee members: Anke De Reuver, Alana Parkins, Liz Worth, Yvette Hugill, Jill Illidge, Rod Illidge, Catherine Calvin, Philip Walkom, Alexandrina Gray, and Philip Koether.
Would you like to become involved? Our Committee members are present at all Gallery functions and would love to meet and talk with you. Our monthly meetings are held on at 5.00pm on the 4th Wednesday of each month (except December) at the Gallery – please come along and join us. You can contact us for further information, make Donations, or apply to become a member online.
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 $40,000 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
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