
Bundaberg Regional Council acknowledges the Traditional Country of the Taribelang Bunda, Gooreng Gooreng, Gurang, and Bailai Peoples and recognises that this country has been and continues to be of cultural, spiritual, social and economic significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
We recognise the thousands of generations of continuous culture that have shaped this country and the people on it.
We pay respects to Elders, past and present.

Mayor's Message
Welcome to the Autumn Program for Bundaberg Regional Galleries.
Across our Childers and Bundaberg gallery spaces we will have new exhibitions to appeal to residents and visitors alike.
Excitingly, this program will feature two suites of exhibitions, opening in February and in April.
February showcases The Dr Egmont Schmidt Memorial Collection nearly a century on from their creation and almost 70 years since the collection was donated to the then Bundaberg City Council.
QAGOMA Touring presents an opportunity for families and children to experience art-making activities to connect with cultures from across Asia and the Pacific.
Take up the opportunity to join some of our local artists for art walks as they share their journey behind the creation of their pieces.
It’s sure to be an insightful look into their inspiration and method.
These are just some of many exhibitions and events I’m looking forward to.
Read on to view the full program.
We hope to see you at the gallery soon!
Helen Blackburn
Bundaberg Region Mayor
Director's Welcome
As I reviewed the exhibitions we have at Bundaberg Regional Galleries over the Autumn period, and indeed throughout 2025, I was struck by how many artists were responding to environmental issues currently facing humankind.
In Autumn, we have exhibitions by Cate Verney and Nicole Jakins, both exploring the complex biodiversity that is our Wallum scrublands, so integral to the landscape of our region.
While each artist has explored the landscape through their own lens, the underlying response is evident in their practice.
If you aren't aware of the Wallum heathlands, than I encourage you to visit the Vera Scarth-Johnson Wildflower Reserve on Coonarr Road.
This reserve was named after artist and conservationist, Vera Scarth-Johnson, who lived in the region between 1940 and 1970. Her greatest wish was to give future generations the opportunity to experience the beauty of the wildflowers and wallum heath vegetation that abounds there.
Further to this, we have Mick Brennan and Vivien Hillocks response works to the incredible continent that is Antarctica. With warming temperatures contributing to loss of ice mass and rising sea levels, Antarctica is facing significant change, and to have artists capture the beauty of the landscape in exhibitions such as Antarctic Reflections, provides vital space for conversation and reflection.
Neon Coral Confetti is another exhibition in our current program that responds to environmental change, this time, the Great Barrier Reef. Through her works, artist Lisa Ashcroft, encourages the viewer to consider their responsibility as the guardians of the environment for future generations.
I hope you will join us at Bundaberg Regional Galleries over the Autumn period to experience these exhibitions, along with the other inspirational exhibitions and programs on offer.
Rebecca McDuff
Gallery Director
EXHIBITIONS

Dr Egmont Schmidt Memorial Collection: A Contemporary Lens
Bundaberg Regional Galleries
15 February to 5 April
Gallery One
Opening event: Friday 14 February | 5.30 pm
The Dr Egmont Schmidt Memorial Collection is an historically important and culturally valuable collection of artworks by early 20th century painters and printmakers.
Acquired by the Bundaberg physician, Dr Egmont Theodore Carl Schmidt (1886-1956) during the first half of the 20th century, the works were formally donated to Bundaberg City Council by his estate trustees in 1956, with the understanding that an art gallery befitting the city would be established and these works would form the nucleus of its collection.
Now 100 years after the creation of many of the works in the Dr Egmont Schmidt Collection, Bundaberg Regional Galleries, are inviting the community to respond to the artworks with a contemporary lens.
A selection of artworks, including paintings, drawings, prose, poetry, photography and digital media have been chosen to kickstart the conversation, but we invite you - the community - to view the artworks and create your own responses.
This will be a 'living' exhibition, with responses being added to the space, alongside the historical artworks that comprise the collection.
Antarctic Reflections
Mick Brennan and Vivien Hillocks
15 February to 29 March
Gallery Two
Opening event: Friday 14 February | 5.30 pm
Art walk: Wednesday 26 February | 10 am
What happens when two artists, their sketchbooks and cameras head off for a once in a lifetime trip to the frozen continent?
Antarctic Reflections is an exhibition detailing just that, as artists Mick Brennan and Vivien Hillocks respond to the awe-inspiring landscape that is our southernmost continent. Rough seas, bitter cold, howling winds, serene stillness - and always the everchanging ice.
This is the vista captured in this multi-media exhibition that takes the viewer on a journey alongside the artists, as they explored the land first seen by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellinghausen in 1820, and a year later explored by John Davis.
Both self-taught visual artists, living and working in the Bundaberg Region, Mick and Vivien each bring their own artistic viewpoint to this exhibition, with Mick's use of complex substrates and found objects as a textural base, complimenting Vivien's detailed depictions in ink and watercolour.
The inclusion of artist journals and photographic references further enhances the exhibition experience.
Mick Brennan, Heading South, 2024, acrylic on canvas.
Mick Brennan, Heading South, 2024, acrylic on canvas.
Shelley Engwirda, Domesticity, 2022, fusible glass. Image Credit: Jim Cullen.
Shelley Engwirda, Domesticity, 2022, fusible glass. Image Credit: Jim Cullen.
A Room of My Own
Shelley Engwirda
15 February to 5 April
The Vault
Opening event: Friday 14 February | 5.30 pm
A Room of My Own is a collection of fusible glass and textile works by Shelley Engwirda, inspired by the iconic essays, 'A Room of One's Own', written by Virginia Woolf in 1929.
Woolf proposed that if women could lead their own lives, they could achieve equal standing in society. This meant women needed to have financial and intellectual freedom to reach their full potential. Woolf also brought attention to the lack of women’s voices telling women’s stories.
Similarly, in this exhibition, the artist has created art quilts that subvert the narrative of them being a feminine craft, and uses the medium of glass not only for its obvious beauty but also as a contemporary art form that has not been influenced by historical and social prejudices.
A Room of My Own invites viewers to consider Woolf's call to action through the lens of these artworks, and to take responsibility for paving their own life path.
It Hangs by a Delicate Thread
Cate Verney
20 February to 27 April
Childers Arts Space
Opening event: Saturday 22 February | 3 pm
Art walk: Thursday 27 February | 10 am
It Hangs by a Delicate Thread reflects the changing moods of the Wallum Heathlands, through its transformative stages of repair and recovery, its changes through beauty and harshness, and its reaction to human intervention.
Apple Tree Creek-based artist, Cate Verney, has a strong connection to the Wallum Heathlands, spending much time exploring and researching this diverse ecosystem characterised by a dense covering of low shrubs, gnarly trees and ragged grasses sprouting from low nutrient sandy soils.
Cate's arts practice reflects her connection to this environment, with the works in It Hangs by a Delicate Thread weaving together natural materials and found objects with botanically printed fabrics, fragile silk worm threads and fine embroidery.
Regeneration and repair in the heathland is a gradual, many layered process, retaining traces of its loss in the environment, and through this exhibition Cate tells her own story, elegantly interlacing the artworks into the fabric of the narration.
Cate Verney, Patched Up Cocoons, 2024, unspun silk, found objects.
Cate Verney, Patched Up Cocoons, 2024, unspun silk, found objects.
Unity Within Multiplicity (installation view, GOMA) 2024.
Unity Within Multiplicity (installation view, GOMA) 2024.
APT 11 Kids on Tour
QAGOMA
15 February to 5 April
Imaginarts
Families and children in Bundaberg can experience exciting hands-on art-making activities when the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) presents Asia Pacific Triennial Kids on Tour at Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery.
Seven different artist-designed activities connect young visitors and families with cultures from across Asia and the Pacific, offering young audiences firsthand experiences with the ideas of artists.
The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial Kids on Tour brings together a range of activities that celebrate the rich diversity of customs from across the region and includes activities developed in collaboration with artists Dana Awartani (Saudi Arabia / Palestine), Etson Caminha (Timor-Leste), Harold 'Egn' Eswar (Malaysia), Brett Graham (Aotearoa New Zealand), Okui Lala (Malaysia), Yim Maline (Cambodia) and Rithika Merchant (India).
APT11 Kids on Tour is free QAGOMA Touring program available to regional Queensland communities, with thanks to generous support from The Tim Fairfax Family Foundation.
APRIL EXHIBITIONS
Big Sculpture
Cairns Indigenous Art Fair
12 April to 12 July
Gallery One
Opening event: Friday 11 April | 5.30 pm
In conversation: Saturday 12 April | 11 am
The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair's Big Sculpture touring exhibition is a captivating showcase, presenting the cultural talents of emerging and prominent artists. The exhibition promises an immersive visual journey through the diverse narratives woven by Indigenous artists, transcending boundaries and embracing a rich tapestry of perspectives.
At the heart of this exhibition are large-scale commissioned works that stand as testaments to their artists' profound connection to culture, land, and heritage. Through the masterful use of modern and repurposed materials, the sculptures not only reflect artistic prowess but also echo a commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Viewers are invited to explore a kaleidoscope of stories, each sculpture telling a unique tale deeply rooted in Queensland's cultural landscape. The juxtaposition of traditional and contemporary elements allows for a nuanced exploration of Indigenous identity and the evolution of artistic expression over time, highlighted by the resilience and creativity of Queensland's leading contemporary First Nations artists like Brian Robinson, Shirley Macnamara, Mavis Benjamin, Toby Cedar, Dr. David Jones, Alma Norman, Marlene Norman, Hans Ahwang, Ian Waldron and Rhonda Woolla.
From the striking layering of Brian Robinson's work to the powerful narratives of country conveyed by Shirley Macnamara's piece, the Big Sculpture touring exhibition promises a thought-provoking and visually stunning experience, celebrating the richness of First Nations artistry in Queensland.
This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
Alma Norman, Marlene Norman, Mavis Benjamin, Jumping Barramundi, 2022, ghost net, rope, twine over steel frame. Photo Credit: Michael Marzik.
Alma Norman, Marlene Norman, Mavis Benjamin, Jumping Barramundi, 2022, ghost net, rope, twine over steel frame. Photo Credit: Michael Marzik.
Nicole Jakins, Wallum Pool, 2025, embossed aluminium (detail).
Nicole Jakins, Wallum Pool, 2025, embossed aluminium (detail).
Wallum Whispers
Nicole Jakins
12 April to 12 July
The Vault
Opening event: Friday 11 April | 5.30 pm
Art walk: Wednesday 28 May | 10 am
Wallum Whispers by multidisciplinary artist Nicole Jakins explores the delicate, often unnoticed dialogue between the elements of nature, embodied through sculptural works crafted from a limited palette of silvery hues. The inspiration for this exhibition is the Wallum country, a coastal heathland where land and water coalesce in a dynamic, fragile harmony.
This series of sculptures draws on the subtle whispers of nature, the quiet movement of its inhabitants, the gentle flow of tannin-rich waters, and the slow, steady erosion of time.
Nicole has had her work curated into many environmentally themed group exhibitions held in Queensland, NSW, and ACT, and in 2024, completed Quiet, my soul, an artist in residency program researching the botanical diversity surrounding the Maroochy Botanic Gardens Arts and Ecology centre.
Wallum Whispers is Nicole's first solo exhibition with Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, and she draws on her extensive arts practice to deliver an installation that invites the viewer to form a deepened awareness of the natural world and its quiet, yet powerful, presence.
Neon Coral Confetti
Lisa Ashcroft
12 April to 5 July
Gallery Two
Opening event: Friday 11 April | 5.30 pm
In conversation: Saturday 12 April | 10 am
Neon Coral Confetti by artist Lisa Ashcroft explores environmental stewardship and the artificial regeneration of the Great Barrier Reef.
The artworks in this exhibition encourage the viewer to consider their responsibility as the guardians of the environment for future generations.
The bittersweet irony is evident: while human actions have contributed to the destruction of the Reef, those same hands are now crucial in using scientific advances, such as synthetic cloning to restore it.
Lisa's use of a bright texture-rich palette, in an abstract expressionistic style, draws the viewers inside the painting's intricate pattern and details in a deliberate act to open critical conversation about the Reef, the importance of sustainable practices and the ongoing battle against climate change.
Lisa Ashcroft, Coral Confetti, 2024, oil on canvas.
Lisa Ashcroft, Coral Confetti, 2024, oil on canvas.
EVENTS

Guide to Local Arts Grants
Tuesday 25 February | 12 - 1pm and 6 - 7 pm
Online
Free, booking required
Join Bundaberg Regional Council RADF Liasion Officer for an online Grant Writing for the Arts workshop (beginner-intermediate level).
These workshop explores the nuts and bolts of writing successful grant applications. Suitable for individual artists (of any discipline), arts organisations and arts workers seeking funding for their creative practice, organisation or project.
We will deep dive into the local Quick Response and Open Round RADF Grants as well as navigating the SmartyGrants portal with a focus on the lifecycle of your grant and the importance of a clear budget.
Art Walk with the Artists: Mick Brennan and Vivien Hillocks
Wednesday 26 February | 10 am
Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery
Free, no booking required
Join artists Mick Brennan and Vivien Hillocks as they speak with Gallery Director, Rebecca McDuff, about their exhibition Antarctic Reflections.
Both artists share a passion for responding to the environment that surrounds them, and this Art Walk gives visitors the opportunity to hear more about their journey to Antarctica and how each has responded to this landscape through their own artistic lens.
Our Art Walks are an enjoyable way to connect with the Gallery and our artists for visitors with all levels of arts knowledge.
Free entry
All welcome
Art Walk with the Artist: Cate Verney
Thursday 27 February | 10 am
Childers Arts Space
Free, no booking required
Join artist, Cate Verney, as she speaks with Gallery Director, Rebecca McDuff, about her exhibition It Hangs by a Delicate Thread.
Cate's practice is woven around her work with natural materials, including botanically printed fabrics, ceramics, and sculptural forms, and this lively and informative Art Walk will provide visitors with the opportunity to learn more about the narrative behind her intriguing exhibition.
Free entry
All welcome
Creative Crowd: Jay Feather
Friday 14 March | 5.30 - 7.30 pm
Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery
$65 | Booking required
Join contemporary landscape artist, Jay Feather, as she leads you on an exploration of colour and abstraction in the painted landscape.
Set in the inspirational surrounds of the Dr Egmont Schmidt Memorial Collection: A Contemporary Lens exhibition, participants of all skill levels will learn tips and techniques for creating their own responses to landscape with a new contemporary lens.
If you have ever wanted to try painting, and loved the vibrancy of Jay's artworks, this is your chance to learn from her in a fun and informal setting.
No experience required. 16 years and over event.
Tuition, materials and light refreshments included.
Connecting Creatives: AI in Arts Practice
Tuesday 25 March | 5.30 - 7 pm
CQUniversity
Free, booking required
Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) an opportunity or a threat to the arts industry?
CQUniversity and Bundaberg Regional Galleries invites you to a networking evening where we will be exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence in the arts.
Hear from a panel of speakers on how they are using AI in their arts practice. Learn more about AI as a creative tool and what risks to be aware of.
With such fast-paced development in AI, it’s important for us all to share and learn from each other.
Join us for an evening of stimulating conversation and an opportunity to build new connections.
Art Walk
Wednesday 26 March | 10 am
Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery
Free, no booking required
Join Gallery Director, Rebecca McDuff, as she leads our March Art Walk focused on the Dr Egmont Schmidt Memorial Collection: A Contemporary Lens exhibition.
Rebecca will share the background of this historical and culturally significant collection, and regale with stories about the artworks and the artists exhibited.
There will also be an opportunity for participants to create their own response works as part of the Art Walk.
This is a lively and informative way to enjoy the Gallery for art lovers with all levels of knowledge, and concludes with morning tea utilising the Galleries' vintage teacup collection.
Free entry
All welcome
In Conversation: Lisa Ashcroft, Neon Confetti
Saturday 12 April | 10 am
Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery
Free, no booking required
Join Gallery Director, Rebecca McDuff, as she speaks with artist, Lisa Ashcroft about her exhibition Neon Coral, and the strong environmental messaging she evokes through her artworks.
Free entry
All welcome
In Conversation: Curator, Big Sculpture
Saturday 12 April | 11 am
Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery
Free, no booking required
Join us for this special behind-the-scenes chat about Cairns Indigenous Art Fair's Big Sculpture exhibition.
This exciting new exhibition features large scale commissioned works by First Nations artists, and this is In Conversation session offers an opportunity for visitors to find out more about how the exhibition was developed, the artists involved, and the importance of the narrative that underpins it.
Free entry
All welcome
Rhonda Woolla (behind the scenes), Pach PekAN (In Bloom), Photo: Michael Marzik
Masterclass: Expressive Acrylic Workshop with Lisa Ashcroft
Saturday 12 April | 1 to 4 pm
Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery
$120 | Booking required
Explore the vibrant world of acrylic painting with renowned artist Lisa Ashcroft in this hands-on Expressive Acrylic Workshop. Inspired by Lisa’s abstract coral art exhibition, this workshop will guide you through essential techniques to bring depth, texture, and movement to your artwork.
Learn the art of glazing to create luminous layers, master impasto for bold textures, and discover the power of layering to add richness and complexity. You'll also develop your skills in fine detailing, allowing you to enhance your compositions with intricate finishing surfaces.
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, Lisa’s expert guidance will empower you to create expressive, ocean-inspired pieces that capture the beauty of coral reefs.
Tuition, materials and light refreshments included.
Masterclass: Watercolour Techniques Workshop with Lisa Ashcroft
Sunday 13 April | 9 am to 12 pm
Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery
$120 | Booking required
Join artist Lisa Ashcroft for an inspiring Expressive Watercolour Workshop, where you'll explore a variety of techniques to bring your artwork to life.
Drawing inspiration from Lisa’s breathtaking abstract coral art exhibition, this hands-on class will introduce you to the creative possibilities of watercolour.
Learn how to achieve depth and luminosity with glazing using different mediums, add bold texture with impasto, and experiment with techniques such as etching and Sgraffito to create intricate details. Discover the magic of bleeding for fluid colour transitions and master dry brushing to add expressive, textured effects to your work.
Whether you're new to watercolours or looking to expand your skill set, Lisa’s expert guidance will help you unlock your artistic potential and create stunning, ocean-inspired pieces.
Tuition, materials and light refreshments included.
Teacher Professional Development
Wednesday 30 April | 5 to 8 pm
Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery
$65 | Booking required
As part of Bundaberg Regional Galleries' commitment to arts education, we are offering a series of Teacher Professional Development sessions throughout 2024.
These sessions have been developed by an experienced senior arts educator to assist primary and secondary teachers with the integration of the arts into the learning environment.
Including practical and hands-on activities, as well as printed resources, these sessions are aimed at participants with all levels of teaching and arts experience.
VISIT
Audio Descriptions
Did you know that you can access audio descriptions for artworks in our exhibitions?
These descriptions are developed by our Gallery team with the aim of increasing accessibility. The audio descriptions provide an explanation of the artwork for those with vision impairment, as well as information that may not be on the artwork label.
The audio descriptions are accessed via QR code, so don't forget your smartphone when visiting!
Gallery Trails
Bundaberg Regional Galleries welcomes visitors of all ages, and our Gallery Trails are a fun way for young visitors to explore the exhibitions.
Designed by an arts educator specifically for our exhibitions, they feature drawing, writing, and responding activities to do in the gallery spaces.
All materials are supplied, and Gallery Trails are free to enjoy. Make sure you ask for yours at the front desk next time you visit!
Gallery Shops
Discover a curated selection of unique products at the Gallery Shops, located at Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery and Childers Arts Space.
Our well-stocked shops feature distinctive items crafted by talented artisans from our region, across Queensland, and beyond. Whether you are in search of the perfect gift or just in need of some retail therapy, you can't go past our range of jewellery, books, textiles, homewares, and clothing.
There are also exclusive product lines linked to exhibitions, exhibition catalogues and fun merchandise, so make sure to add the Gallery Shops to your retail itinerary!
Local funding available for creative projects
The Regional Arts Development Fund provides support for arts projects and activities. Areas of support include individual professional development, workshops, innovative arts development, creative industry development and initiatives.
Find out how a RADF grant can make your project idea a reality. Visit our website today.
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