Coffs Harbour has scored one of the biggest arts coups in its history, securing Australia’s most celebrated, and most argued about, portrait prize as the grand final stop on its national tour, and Yarrila Arts and Museum is throwing a celebration fit for the occasion.
The Archibald Prize 2025, on tour from the Art Gallery of New South Wales, opens at YAM this Friday, 7 August.
Mayor Nikki Williams said landing the finalists’ artworks was a coup for the regional gallery.
“Having the finalist artworks from the Archibald Prize at YAM is incredibly significant for a regional gallery which is fast establishing a reputation for excellence in every respect,” Mayor Williams said.
“Having the exhibition here is massive for the local community and indeed the wider region of the North Coast and west to the Tablelands as it will be an arts tourism bucket-list experience.”
First awarded in 1921, the Archibald remains Australia’s most popular, and most debated, art prize. This year’s finalists were selected from more than 900 entries by the trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, with the touring show also featuring the Packing Room Prize.
Each work is painted from life, capturing a unique encounter between artist and subject, ranging from whimsical and tender to strikingly formal and intense.
City of Coffs Harbour Museum and Gallery Service Leader Carrie Kibbler said YAM would mark the occasion, which runs from 7 August to 13 September, with a run of complementary events.
“We’ll have a gala opening night, and we’ve been taking entries for a ‘Young Archie Coffs Harbour’ exhibition open to young creatives aged 5 to 18 years,” Ms Kibbler said.
“And in keeping with the spirit of the Archibald Prize, we’ll have a People’s Choice Award where you can vote for your favourite artwork during your visit to YAM and go into the draw for a $500 gift card, generously provided by the Art Gallery of New South Wales.”
Voting is done by scanning a QR code inside YAM for the duration of the exhibition.
Ms Kibbler will MC the official opening on Thursday, 6 August, running from 6pm to 8pm. Entry is free, with the YAM Bar open for drinks for purchase.
The Young Archie Coffs Harbour competition invites budding young artists from across the Coffs Coast to submit a portrait of someone special in their lives.
“This family-focused initiative will highlight imagination, storytelling and connection through portraiture and it will be judged by local artist Seabastion Toast, an inaugural competitor on ABC Television’s Australian Portrait Artist of the Year, with the winners announced at the opening on Monday 10 August,” Ms Kibbler said.
The Archibald Prize 2025 regional tour is supported by major partner Optus.
Full details on the Young Archie Coffs Harbour competition are available at yarrilaartsandmuseum.com.au.
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