Just Below the Clouds

Paul Brinkman – Manager, Arts & Cultural Services

In this, our 10th year of operations at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, it is a great time to reflect on all of our achievements. We have shown over 162 exhibitions, exhibited over 380 local artists’ work, presented over 1,500 public programs and welcomed our 1,000,000th visitor. In the face of fires, floods and pandemics, the Cultural Centre has been a community meeting place, a place of respite and a place to celebrate what makes the Blue Mountains so special.

Without the community’s fantastic support and enthusiasm towards our exhibitions and programs the Cultural Centre would not be the buzzing space that it is today, and I thank all of our artists, creatives and visitors that have been a part of our story. To all of our past and present staff, your dedication to making the Cultural Centre a space of creativity, learning, innovation and wonder has been the key to our success and the national recognition within the public gallery sector that we enjoy is testament to your hard work.

In the context of regional galleries we are still young, an adolescent full of courage and potential. In the next 10 years we will strive to continue to bring the best of the Arts to the Blue Mountains and in doing so we will enthral, surprise, challenge and inspire.

It is with great sadness that I acknowledge the passing of artist Peter Kingston. Peter was a great supporter of the Cultural Centre and his artworks that we have in our Collection are testament to his fond regard for the Blue Mountains. A friend and inspiration to many, Peter’s passing is a significant loss to Australia’s visual arts community. We extend our condolences to Caroline and Fairlie.