2024 ANNUAL REPORT
This year has seen the continued growth and creative development of the Northern Rivers Community Gallery (NRCG) as a vibrant, dedicated, and engaged arts and cultural organisation. Our team has delivered an artistic program of excellence, supporting over 200 artists and delivering 85 exhibitions, public programs and creative events. NRCG is a vital and important arts and cultural hub for Ballina and the Northern Rivers region.
2024 exhibition highlights include a suite of high calibre exhibitions, featuring local, regional, and national artists. Notable exhibitions include Time and Tide by seven pioneering Australian women printmakers, which will tour nationally in 2025; Lyndall Phelp’s installation Re-present examined 19th century ornithology through textiles, sculpture and works on paper; Sprung’s powerful Suburban Superheroes explored diverse representations of its ensemble artists through photographic portraits shot in iconic locations in Ballina and Exhale in Forward Motion curated by Fabian Pertzel presented works by queer artists from across the Northern Rivers. This year we presented the Byron School of Art Graduate Award - the recipient was Emma T Woodburn, whose exhibition Untold featured sculptures and assemblages inspired by the heritage listed NRCG building.
In 2024, Ignite Studios continued to build capacity, with an 81% increase in program participation, delivery of 62 public programs including workshops, artist talks, events and hires of workshop spaces to over 1200 participants. NRCG was awarded a Highly Commended Museums & Galleries NSW Imagine Award for the Ballina Contemporary Art Market and 2024 saw national film organisation Screenworks relocate their office to Ignite Studios.
Key events delivered in 2024 include Together Arts & Community Wellbeing Day, Pop-Up Art Market and Community Clothes Swap delivered in partnership with Council’s Resource Recovery team. NRCG is grateful to our community of artists, facilitators, visitors, and participants who have attended exhibitions and events throughout 2024.
The gallery has a dedicated group of gallery volunteers, whose time and energy is invaluable to our everyday operations – we sincerely couldn’t do it without our volunteers. Thanks, also to our 2024 project partners and sponsors, we have been blessed to work with so many wonderful arts organisations this year.
The gallery team is looking forward to an inspiring 2025 and working with our creative community to support a dynamic and professional arts and cultural hub in the Ballina Shire.