The region’s art lovers have enjoyed a year of creative excellence and engaging programs with thousands attending exhibitions and events at Bundaberg Regional Galleries.
Over 22,000 visitors flocked to the galleries in Bundaberg and Childers to experience a range of programs that included exhibitions featuring local artists, touring showcases and programming for seniors and children.
Exhibitions
Bundaberg Regional Galleries hosted 24 exhibitions in 2025, covering diverse and engaging subject matter, with 35 local artists featured in exhibitions across the schedule, including the annual showcase ‘Here + now’.
‘Mom Bras’ by American artist Cassie Arnold was another highlight of the year, as the first solo international artist exhibition hosted by Bundaberg Regional Galleries and the first Australian exhibition for the artist.
Public programs held in conjunction with ‘Mom Bras’ saw the community contribute to ‘Support the Girls’, a charity providing new and preloved bras to those in need, and come together with Zonta Club of Bundaberg to sew breast care cushions for patients recovering from breast surgery.
The galleries’ summer program exhibitions were celebrated with an opening night event attended by 218 visitors and a joyful performance by Bundaberg Voice Collective to celebrate the ‘Cats’ exhibition.
Achievements
Expanding the reach of the galleries beyond the Bundaberg Region, ‘The Brothers Gruchy’, curated by Bundaberg Regional Galleries, was shown in four interstate galleries as part of a national tour presented in partnership with Museums and Galleries Queensland.
Bundaberg Regional Galleries was also acknowledged for projects undertaken in 2024, being named a finalist in two categories of the Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards for ‘The Red Shoes’ and ‘The Closet’, with ‘The Red Shoes’ also shortlisted in the Local Government Managers Australia Awards for Excellence.
Community marks fire anniversary
The community marked the 25th anniversary of the Palace Backpackers Hostel fire in July, with the memorial housed in Childers Arts Space central to the commemoration.
The remainder of the exhibition space became a place for quiet reflection with an installation of a memorial wall featuring keys with parcel tags for visitors to leave messages of remembrance for victims and survivors.
The keys were given to Council by survivors of the Bundaberg Federal Backpackers fire in 2020 to acknowledge the safety legislation reforms following the Childers fire that saved their lives 20 years later.
Regional Arts Development Fund
Bundaberg Regional Council continued its support of local arts initiatives through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), awarding 18 grants in the past year.
Projects supported by the funding employed 101 artists or arts workers and a further 38 other workers.
5,977 volunteers got involved along with 8,429 attendees and 1,433 participants across the funded programs.
RADF is a partnership between the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Bundaberg Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
Keep in touch with all the galleries have to offer in 2026 at artsbundaberg.com.au/Galleries and subscribe to the e-newsletter here.
