From the Director - July 2025

Hello Everyone,

Caloundra Regional Gallery has reached a significant milestone — 25 years as the premier art institution on the Sunshine Coast. This jubilee marks over two decades of artistic excellence, including 19 years of the prestigious national art prize and over 10 local art prizes. The gallery has curated and hosted more than 260 exhibitions, working with hundreds of artists from across Australia to bring art to the community.

I started at the gallery in 2019, and one of my first major activities was the 20th anniversary. It was such an exciting moment to be a part of, and now here we are at 25 years! The festivities will open on 7 August, with a vibrant evening of art, music and community running from 5.30 to 9.00pm.

The precinct will come alive with art installations projected onto surrounding buildings, performance art throughout the evening, and live music from multiple artists both inside and outside the gallery. A bar, thanks to Moffat Beach Brewing Co., and award-winning Yassou and their Greek street food and Pizza Coppola with their woodfired pizza’s, will be available on site to keep you refreshed as we mark this special event together. This dynamic celebration offers something for everyone to enjoy, so book your free tickets now.

In the gallery space, we will be exhibiting all the major prize-winning artworks from the Sunshine Coast National Art Prize, since its inception in 2006. This will be the first time these 19 artworks have been displayed together, offering a rare opportunity to witness the evolution of contemporary art in Australia.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a timeline showcasing the gallery's history, from the fundraising and advocacy that launched the gallery, through each exhibition and highlights of the public programs over the years. I want to take a moment to thank the wonderful Friends of the Gallery, who were pivotal in getting the gallery up and running, and who continue to provide their invaluable support.

The anniversary exhibition runs from 8 to 11 August and, of course, there will be cake — on 11 August we’ll be open for a special celebration with birthday cake from 10am. So please join the party, share a slice with us, and celebrate both how far we've come and what we have to look forward to.

Look forward to seeing you in the gallery...

Jo Duke
Gallery Director