The Archibald Prize has taken up residence at Geelong Gallery, attracting visitors from far and wide to witness the best portraiture works in Australia and New Zealand.
The Prize opened last weekend and is anticipated to draw more than 70,000 visitors during its stay until November 9.
As a member of the Geelong Mayor Events Committee and Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine, I cannot understate the significance of hosting this major event here in Geelong.
Our region has strong ties to the Archibald Prize – it’s the hometown of founder JF Archibald, who was born in Geelong West in 1856.
So, it makes perfect sense for this to be the first stop on its regional tour.
Importantly, the exhibition will see an influx of art enthusiasts descend on Geelong, something our hospitality venues and tourism operators will surely relish.
When we hosted the exhibition in 2018, almost 65,000 guests flocked to the gallery over 58 days.
This year we have managed to secure the exhibition for 71 days, and we anticipate this event will contribute $8 million in economic benefit to the region.
At the City, we recognise the significance of the prize and see it as a highlight in our cultural calendar. We are proud to be on board as a presenting partner this year, contributing $100,000 to host the event.
Since 1921, the Archibald Prize has celebrated a wide range of people, from everyday Australians to well-known celebrities, sharing their images and stories.
The 2025 exhibition showcases the work of 57 finalists, chosen by the Art Gallery of New South Wales trustees from a total of 904 entries.
The Archibald Prize is awarded annually to the best portrait of a person distinguished in art, letters, science or politics, painted by an artist living in Australia or New Zealand.
This year, Julie Fragar won the esteemed Prize for her portrait of fellow artist Justene Williams, titled ‘Flagship Mother Multiverse’.
Regardless of your art knowledge, there is certainly a portrait that would pique anybody’s interest.
Among the portraits on display, you may recognise some famous faces, including former AFL player and FightMND founder Neale Daniher, comedian Aaron Chen, radio presenter Jackie O and Gardening Australia’ host Costa Georgiadis.
So, if arts, sport, entertainment or popular culture are areas of interest to you, I urge you to go view this year’s exhibition.
The team at the Geelong Gallery have done a tremendous job curating a program of events complementary to the Archibald Prize.
Budding artists will have their work on display throughout the city as part of the Who’s Who Portrait Exhibition, a showcase of local students’ work coinciding with the Archibald Prize.
This project hopes to inspire young artists to create portraits that celebrate local or regional identities, as well as their personal histories and accomplishments.
And for those looking for an evening of cultural enrichment, the gallery is presenting ‘after-hours’ sessions every Friday night, where guests can take in the exhibition accompanied by live music and hospitality.
To learn more about all the gallery’s upcoming events, visit geelonggallery.org.au
