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Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery was established in 1937, making it the oldest public art gallery in regional Queensland. It is owned and operated by Toowoomba Regional Council and is located in the heart of the city, surrounded by attractive inner-city parks, cafes and vibrant street art.
Keep reading below to find out what's on at Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery or take a look at our January to March 2023 Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery booklet.
The health and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and volunteers is our top priority. Wearing face masks is encouraged when visiting.
Please do not visit if you are unwell or have been in the past 72 hours.
Please help us protect our community by:
Thank you for your continued support for galleries in the Toowoomba Region and for helping to keep everyone in our community safe and well.
Gallery opening hours:
Usual hours
Phone: (07) 4688 6652
Email: art@tr.qld.gov.au
Instagram: @trartgalleries
Post:
Toowoomba Regional Art GalleryPO Box 3021Toowoomba QLD 4350
Bolton Reading Room (housing the Lionel Lindsay Library) - Open by appointment Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday.
Research enquiries via email art@tr.qld.gov.au or phone (07) 4688 6693.
Location: 531 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba, beside City Hall. Open in Google Maps.
Access: Parking is available on Ruthven Street and in nearby off-street car parks. Access for disabled persons is available at street level, with a lift leading to the upper floor. Toilet facilities cater for visitors using wheelchairs and guardians tending babies and young children.
We have four different mailing lists you may like to subscribe to:
View exhibitions and events on the Toowoomba Region Events Register
Follow us on Instagram @trartgalleries
The gallery houses three permanent collections - The Fred and Lucy Gould Art Collection, the Toowoomba City Collection and The Lionel Lindsay Gallery and Library.
The Fred and Lucy Gould Art Collection is an eclectic collection of approximately 350 works. The collection was donated to the people of Toowoomba in 1950 by Mr Fred Gould, in memory of his wife Lucy. Lucy enjoyed drawing and painting, while Fred Gould served for some years as a trustee of the Queensland Art Gallery.
The result of their interests can be seen in this collection which includes:
Mostly from Europe, Asia and Australia, the pieces date from the early 1700s to the 1930s, and some of Lucy Gould's own works are included. The importance of this community asset is well realised by Toowoomba City Council which, since the late 1980s, has carried out a program of conservation to ensure that The Fred and Lucy Gould Art Collection will be preserved for future generations, as an important element of the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery.
Named in honour of Sir Lionel Lindsay, this unique collection was opened by the then Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, in 1959. It was originally assembled by Toowoomba couple, W.R.F (Bill) Bolton MBE and Marion Bolton, whose dedication has left the city with a remarkable legacy.
The art collection features over 400 artworks by members of the Lindsay family and many other significant Australian painters, including Frederick McCubbin, Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts and Rupert Bunny.
The collection of print materials is of national importance and comprises:
The manuscripts include important documents such as letters written by explorer Ludwig Leichhardt, navigator La Perouse and writer Henry Lawson, as well as Lionel Lindsay's own papers.
The Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery – Toowoomba City Collection imparts another dimension to the other permanent collections in the gallery by focusing principally on 20th century Australian art.
Paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, ceramics, small-scale sculpture and jewellery are all represented, with an emphasis on works by artists of significance, consistent with the perceived developments in Australian contemporary art, Queensland artists and artists who have an important connection to the Toowoomba Region and its history. The Dr Irene Amos OAM Collection - Amos Bequest is a major acquisition and forms an important part of the overall catalogue of works.
Image: Installation view Multiple Originals: Prints from the Collection, 2020.
Free guided tours for groups can be arranged for groups visiting the Gallery. Bookings are essential for all group visits and organisers are encouraged to book at least two weeks ahead.
Contact the Gallery via email or phone to discuss your visit.
Contemporary Wearables Biennial Jewellery Award and Exhibition is the focus of Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery's contribution to promoting excellence in contemporary adornment. The award was established in 1989, with the aid of the Toowoomba Gallery Society Inc., and is a forum for experimental and innovative contemporary jewellery and object practice.
Juried and judged by leading industry professionals, the Award showcases the work of Australia’s prominent and emerging contemporary makers. In addition, exhibited pieces are eligible for acquisition for the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery - Toowoomba City Collection. Acquisitions from the Award have made a significant contribution to building one Australia’s leading contemporary jewellery collections housed at Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery.
Contemporary Wearables is proudly supported by Toowoomba Regional Council.
Contemporary Wearables '23 Biennial Jewellery Award and Exhibition is open to prominent and emerging contemporary makers who are permanent residents of Australia.
Entries must be made in the past two years (including student entries) and must be the sole work in design and craftsmanship of the artist or collaborating artists. The entry must adhere to the full terms and conditions specified on the entry form.
Up to $15,000 is available for acquisitions.
2023 awards:
Entries close: Friday 19 May 2023
To enter or view details, download the Contemporary Wearables23 Entry Form.
Contemporary Wearables '23 Biennial Jewellery Award and Exhibition will be on display from 26 August - 19 November 2023 at Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery.
Subscribe to the Contemporary Wearables Biennial Jewellery Award and Exhibition Mailing List.
The 2021 Award exhibition was juried by:
Dr Elizabeth Shaw, Contemporary Jeweller and Senior Lecturer, Head of Jewellery and Small Objects Department, Queensland College of Art, Griffith UniversityMarian Hosking, Contemporary Jeweller and former Head of Gold and Silversmithing Departments at both RMIT and Monash UniversityDr Nicholas Bastin, Contemporary Jeweller and Lecturer Gold and Silversmithing, School of Art, RMIT University.
The appointed judge for 2021 was Barbara Heath, one of Australia’s leading contemporary jewellers.
Award Winners:
Image: 2021 award winner Sarah RAYNER and Sophie CARNELL / Florilegium… traversing the poetry of plants 2020 / 42 brooches: hand carved porcelain with terra sigillata, sterling and fine silver / 26 x 375 x 8cm / Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery - Toowoomba City Collection 2387 / Purchased from Contemporary Wearables ’21 with funds donated by Toowoomba Gallery Society 2018 / © Sarah Rayner and Sophie Carnell
Two awarded works have been acquired for the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery - Toowoomba City Collection.
The following works were also acquired for the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery - Toowoomba City Collection:
The 2019 award exhibition was juried by:
The appointed judge for 2019 was Marian Hosking, Silversmith.
Award winners:
Two awarded works have been acquired for the Toowoomba City Collection.
The following works were also acquired for the Toowoomba City Collection:
Image: 2019 award winner Melissa CAMERON / Corporate entity / corporeal entity 2017 / Neckpiece: stainless steel, vitreous enamel titanium / 10.5 x 10.5 x 1.0cm; 76.0cm chain / Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery - City Collection 2339 / Acquired from Contemporary Wearables 2019 Biennial Jewellery Award & Exhibition / © Melissa Cameron
Contemporary Wearables '17 was juried by:
The appointed judge for 2017 was Mr Phill Mason, Gem-Cutter, Goldsmith and Studio-Jeweller.
The three awarded works were acquired for the Toowoomba City Collection.
Image: 2017 Award Winner Luke ABBOT / Mandible setting 2017 / articulated ring: titanium, 925 silver, gem / 2.8 x 2.1 x 0.7cm / Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery - Toowoomba City Collection 2207 / Acquired from Contemporary Wearables 2017 Biennial Jewellery Award & Exhibition / Reproduced by kind permission.
Contemporary Wearables '15 was juried by:
Sabine Pagan, contemporary jeweller and former Head of BA (Jewellery) at Charles Sturt University judged the award.
The following works were acquired for the Gallery’s Collection:
No student award was presented.
Image: 2015 Award Winner Christel VAN DER LAAN / Eureka 2014 / brooch – ceramic honeycomb, oxidised silver, gold, onyx, mirror, paint / 9.0 x 10.0 x 2.5cm / Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery - Toowoomba City Collection 2121 / Acquired from Contemporary Wearables 2015 Biennial Jewellery Award & Exhibition / Reproduced by kind permission.
The Gallery offers free guided tours to schools and educators Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5pm. Bookings are essential and educators are encouraged to book at least two weeks ahead. We cater for students from kindergarten to tertiary level, home-schooled and school groups of any year level with a range of interests.
We encourage enquiries from educators who would like a tailored visit to suit their program. Delivery can be flexible, so if you have an idea or wish to book a tour, contact the Gallery via email or phone to discuss your needs.
The Gallery offers special access to artworks not currently on display for research and educational purposes. Schools wishing to view Collection items that are not on display as part of their Gallery visit should contact the Gallery with at least 48 hours notice to make a request. Access to items is not guaranteed but will be provided if possible.
Providing access to The Bolton Reading Room for educational purposes is a key aspect of our Gallery service.
The holdings include rare, unique and out-of-print materials relating to:
Physical access to browse and read items is by appointment only.
To make an appointment or enquiry, email art@tr.qld.gov.au or phone (07) 4688 6693.
