Parkes Shire Council is delighted to bring The Best of the Bald Archy Prize exhibition to the local community, offering a unique opportunity to experience Australia's most loved satirical portrait award.
The exhibition will officially open with a special Opening Night event on Thursday, 27 February at 6pm in the Coventry Room at Parkes Library and Cultural Centre. Entry to the opening night is $20. The exhibition will then be open to the public from 28 February to 18 April, with free entry.
The Best of the Bald Archy Prize celebrates Australia's most popular and internationally recognised satirical portrait award, The Bald Archy Prize. The exhibition offers visitors a chance to enjoy art with a cheeky twist and is widely regarded as Australia's premier satirical art prize.
Cultural, Education & Library Services Manager, Kerryn Jones, said: "The Best of the Bald Archy Prize is a wonderful example of how art can be engaging, humorous and accessible for everyone. This exhibition invites people of all ages to enjoy portraiture in a completely different way. We're thrilled to be able to share such a popular and entertaining exhibition with our community."
The Bald Archy Prize was established in 1994 by Peter Batey OAM as a light-hearted counterpart to the Archibald Prize and is famously judged by the world's premier avian art critic, Professor Maud Cockatoo. Now in its 30th year, the prize continues to delight audiences with its humour and sharp social commentary.
The exhibition showcases winning portraits of well-known Australian icons including Kerry Packer, Shane Warne, John Howard, Pauline Hanson and Julia Gillard. Its simple purpose is to remind audiences that art can be clever, critical and funny all at once - celebrating the irreverent, larrikin Australian spirit in a way that appeals to people from all walks of life.
Now administered by the Museum of the Riverina in Wagga Wagga, The Best of the Bald Archy Prize brings accessible, entertaining and thought-provoking art to regional communities across Australia.
Parkes Shire Council is proud to continue Peter Batey's vision that art should be accessible to everyone by bringing a diverse range of creative experiences and exhibitions to the Parkes Library and Cultural Centre.
Celebrating the lighter side of art and the unmistakable Australian sense of humour, these works are guaranteed to make visitors think, talk - and most of all, laugh.
Tickets for the opening night available by calling Parkes Library on 6861 2309 or through Humanitix. https://events.humanitix.com/the-best-of-the-bald-archy-prize
