BEGINNINGS
In 1919 the artist, John Salvana, presented Tamworth City Council with a collection of 100 paintings, drawings, etchings and art books “to encourage art in the country”. This collection, which has a Sydney bias, includes works by Salvana himself as well as A. H. Fullwood, Frank Mahony, Albert Hanson, W. Lister and Elioth Gruner.
A second major donation comprising 100 English, European and Australian paintings was bequeathed to the gallery in 1958 by Mrs M. Burdekin of “Plumbthorpe”, Barraba.
Among the artists represented are such celebrated English watercolourists as Birket, Foster and Copley Fielding.
The Gallery also owns one of the finest public collections of colonial silver in Australia.
Donated by Mrs Littleton-Taylor in 1963, it includes simple engraved mugs and flatware as well as racing cups wine sets, emu eggs and other highly elaborate presentation pieces.
Since 1975, the Gallery has focused on the development of an Australian fibre collection, which embraces all related art and craft forms. Acquisitions are made biennially through the Tamworth Fibre Textile Biennial and includes works by such established fibre artists as Liz Williamson, Julie Gough, Heather Dorrough, Erica Semier, Margaret Ainscow and Julie Montgarrett.
In December 2004 the Tamworth Regional Gallery moved to a spacious new two storey purpose built Library and Gallery building at 466 Peel Street, Tamworth (between White and Hill streets). The new Tamworth Regional Gallery is a state-of-the-art multi purpose venue with two large exhibition spaces, Gallery Shop, an arts studio for workshops and educational activities and a modern meeting room and training facility.
Tamworth Regional Gallery aims to promote understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts and contemporary arts and crafts practices across a range of visual art forms and media. This is reflected in the Gallery’s policy to provide a diverse and informed program of outstanding visual art and craft exhibitions and activities including public lectures by leading artists and curator’s, exhibition openings with floor talks, children’s workshops, floor talks for school groups and community outreach activities. This diverse program of activities also provides a vibrant arts focus essential to the community and cultural life of the region.
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RECENT FEEDBACK
Twined Together
kunmadj njalehnjaleken
Very interesting
Catherine Fogarty, Gunnedah
Very impressive exhibition
Marnielie Siemerirl, Holland
Opens eyes to Australian skills
Debbie Collier ,Brisbane
Fantastically made baskets
James Harrison Medowie
Ocean to Outback
Wonderful to be able see some of these great paintings first hand.
Ann & David Broomby Port Macquarie
Very Interesting - Thanks
Arthur & Joy Wood
Zimbabwe & England
Well worth the trip from Sydney
Tricia Gulliver Epping NSW
"Great"
Ted Barton Tamworth
Magical
Judy Halliday Sydney
Loved the whole spectrum
Josephine Perth WA
Close To Home
Fascinating
Claudia Hunter Tamworth
Great as always
Terry Mifsud
Essentially Australian Judy Cassab
I'll be back
Ellen Miller Tamworth
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