Image: Margaret Olley OAM, 'Lemons and ginger jar', circa 1980, oil on board, 49.5 x 75 cm, Gift of the Estate of Margaret Olley, Margaret Olley Art Trust/Philip Bacon, 2013, Permanent Collection Lismore Regional Gallery. Photo: Carl Warner.

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ArtVenture: From Empty Shop Fronts to Vibrant Art Spaces

In collaboration with Lismore Regional Gallery and vacant shop owners, Lismore City Council is proud to present ArtVenture. This innovative program is set to revitalise Lismore’s business centres by transforming empty shop front windows into vibrant art exhibition spaces, showcasing our local arts sector and, importantly, supporting our local businesses.

Since 1948, Lismore Regional Gallery has grown an esteemed permanent collection featuring artworks by nationally and locally significant artists. The collection represents Australian art history and reflects the unique stories and experiences of Lismore and the Northern Rivers region.

ArtVenture includes works by: Alan Baker, Rene Bolten, Kevin Connor, Elisabeth Cummings, Edna McKenzie, Jon Molvig, Digby Moran, Margaret Olley, Pamela Tippett, Oral Roberts, Adrian Wiszniewski, Lucas Wright, Michael Zavros.

In 2022, Australia’s east coast endured three severe weather systems that led to record rains. The weather events inundated Lismore with flooding, the highest levels in history reaching up to 14.4 metres, destroying the city and many works from the permanent art collection.

ArtVenture showcases the saved artworks in the permanent collection that have been carefully restored to bring a renewed richness back to the city and reflect its resilience. The trail enables visitors to discover the evocative artworks printed on the windows of empty shopfronts and learn about the unique stories behind each artwork.

ArtVenture evokes a sense of adventure and exploration and invites participants to embark on an exciting art walk, discovering hidden treasures in unexpected places.

The deepest gratitude to ICS / International Art Services, IAS, Create NSW, and MGNSW, for supporting Lismore Regional Gallery through the recovery of the collection and helping to triage it out of the building in the immediate aftermath of the flood.

ArtVenture is presented by Lismore City Council’s Destination and Economy Team in collaboration with the Lismore Regional Gallery.

Discover more about each artwork at the links below.