Archibald exhibit a top fit for Geelong

WHEN outsiders think of Geelong as a destination, most often it is in terms of football or the coast.

Our magnificent coastline has drawn tourists, day-trippers and new residents to our region for decades, while the Cats and the redeveloped Kardinia Park precinct have become a major visitor drawcard in recent years.

But not so often discussed is Geelong’s thriving cultural community and the economic wins it is delivering for our city.

Our region is fertile ground for artists, performers, writers and musicians.

We nurtured the artistic talents of Arthur Streeton, Guy Pearce, Helen Garner and Chrissy Amphlett. We are home to Australia’s oldest notfor-profit theatre company in GSODA and home to Australia’s only literary festival showcasing non-fiction writing.

The cultural precinct in the heart of our city is signposted by the aweinspiring dome of the awardwinning library and heritage centre.

Across the road, the Geelong Performing Arts Centre is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar transformation, while next door the Geelong Gallery today opens its biggest ever exhibition — the 2017 Archibald Prize.

Securing the exhibition of Australia’s most popular art award has been quite a coup for the region and gallery, with previous regional tours to Bendigo and Ballarat recording crowds of almost 60,000 people in six weeks.

The potential flow-on effects across the region are exciting.

The City of Greater Bendigo reported that its 2009 Archibald exhibition provided a $3 million boost to the region, while V/Line has been busy promoting it as the ideal daytrip for people across the state. Throw in the region’s myriad other drawcards — our beaches, wineries and award-winning restaurants — as well as our location as gateway to the Great Ocean Road, and there is plenty of reason for art lovers to stay a while and spend some cash in our region.

The exhibition has added poignancy, given that its founder and namesake, J.F. Archibald, was born in Geelong West. Given our city’s rich artistic heritage, strong cultural community and reputation as a destination location, the Archibald Prize might just have found its true home in Geelong.