Investing in the Arts is Investing in Our Community

By Glenda Brown, President, Creative Connections Whitsundays

As the final artworks are packed away following another successful Great Barrier Reef Festival Art Exhibition, I'm reminded that the true value of events like these extends far beyond the gallery walls.

This year, artists competed for a prize pool valued at more than $9,200 in cash and in-kind awards, in addition to artwork sales throughout the exhibition.

The Great Barrier Reef Festival Art Exhibition has grown into the Whitsundays' leading curated art competition. It provides artists with the opportunity to exhibit alongside their peers, receive professional recognition, connect with new audiences and, importantly, earn income from their creative practice.

When people invest in original art, they're not simply purchasing something beautiful for their home or workplace. They're investing in the talent, skill and vision of the artist behind it. They're supporting local enterprise, encouraging creativity and helping build a more vibrant and connected community.

The Great Barrier Reef Festival Art Exhibition continues to grow each year because of the artists who enter, the volunteers who generously give their time, the sponsors who believe in the value of the arts, and the hundreds of visitors who come through the doors to experience the exhibition.

On behalf of Creative Connections Whitsundays, thank you to everyone who exhibited, volunteered, visited, voted, purchased artwork or raffle tickets, or simply encouraged an artist along the way.

We look forward to welcoming you back for an even bigger Great Barrier Reef Festival Art Exhibition in 2027.

This article also appeared in the weekly Create. Connect. Whitsundays column in the Mackay and Whitsunday Life newspaper. Proudly presented by the Whitsundays Writers Festival and Creative Connections Whitsunday, the column features local creative profiles, thought-provoking articles, poetry, writing opportunities, and the latest news on exhibitions, galleries, markets, and cultural events across the Whitsundays.