On 28 May 2022 Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery will close its doors to the public and get on with the busy work of moving to Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM) at Yarrila Place.

While the journey to Yarrila Place is an exciting one it is also a time to acknowledge the great contribution the Gallery, the artists, the volunteers and the visitors have made to Coffs Harbour’s cultural life since its opening in 2001.

In 2001 the new Regional Gallery opened with just half of the current area and one Director, before expanding a year later into the full space it is today. It is fitting that the Gallery’s final exhibition is with a local artist, Jan Allsopp.  Explore ‘Complex Simplicity’ as it grows and shifts with every visitor, delighting audiences with its combination of colour, shape and texture.

“While it is sad to close the doors on a space so full of memories, connection and amazing art, this is also a time to celebrate all that Coffs cultural community have achieved over the past twenty years,” said Michelle Smith, Team Leader Cultural Services.

“And every step of the way the volunteer group, Friends of Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, has been there to support the Gallery with fundraising and engagement.”

“Happily that relationship continues into Yarrila Arts and Museum and we look forward to partnering with Friends of Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery and other community stakeholders on events and activities in the lead-up to the opening of this exciting new facility,” adds Smith.

From June 2022, there will be a range of programs including weaving workshops, 3D Virtual Tours and a range of cultural development workshops and events. An exciting project is the development of Coffs Collections Walking Tour apps. We encourage interested community members to sign up to our newsletters for information on what’s on and how they can engage with their local museum, gallery and library services. Visit us at https://www.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au/gallery

While our exhibition spaces are closed to the public, Coffs Harbour City Council’s Cultural Services Team will continue to use the Gallery and the back of house for critical auditing and administration of the Gallery collection in preparation for Yarrila Arts and Museum. The space will also be used for the curatorial development of YAM’s opening exhibitions, including “Yaam Gumbaynggirr Jagan: Here is Gumbaynggirr Country” which will be curated by a First Nations curator and feature commissioned works from local Gumbaynggirr artists.