CULTURE
CHECK IT OUT
»T osari Galleries
draws art lovers and visitors who can enjoy and purchase original artworks and limited edition prints, along with a range of unusual and beautiful Australian designed and made glass, ceramic and timber souvenirs.
»T he University
of Southern Queensland’s Artsworx is an established arts venue and production house that showcases its students’ art collection throughout the year.
»H oused inside
Kontraband Studios on Laurel St in the CBD, No Comply gallery is an artistrun-initiative.
»G alleries can also
be found upstairs, with Raygun Projects at 249 Margaret St and the Australian Cultural Library at 488 Ruthven St hosting regular exhibitions.
»A lexandra
Lawson Gallery is open from 10am – 1pm and by appointment at 5-7 Railway St.
A D AY OUT IN TOOW OOM BA GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS FOR EVERY TASTE ON OFFER WORDS ELOUISE QUINLIVAN ARTWORK ADNATE, NEIL ST
T
he Empire Theatre, now a quintessential venue for major international performances and stage productions, has a proud history dating back to the silent movie era in 1911. After a devastating fire in 1933, the magnificent theatre rose from the ashes and was rebuilt that year in an art-deco style. The theatre closed in 1971 and was used for storage before falling into disrepair. After almost three decades the theatre was revitalised and reopened in 1997. The heritage-listed arts precinct on Neil St continues to be developed and expanded. Toowoomba also houses two cinemas, each playing the latest release movies. The Toowoomba Strand on Margaret St is a heritage-listed site, built in 1916 and remains Australia’s oldest purpose-built cinema still in operation. Before it became a cinema, the site had operated as the Crystal Palace Picture Gardens. In the century that has passed, the building has undergone significant refurbishment. The other cinema, Birch Carroll and Coyle, is located at Grand Central Shopping Centre.
COBB+CO MUSEUM The Cobb+Co Museum is part of the Queensland Museum and is home to the National Carriage Collection of a proud past. As well as the coaches, the life-size collection includes examples of a vast range of vehicles from the horse-drawn era, from farm wagons and delivery carts to the Rolls-Royce of carriages, the Landau. The museum hosts a range of hands-on workshops throughout the year, with everything from blacksmithing and silversmithing to leadlighting and leatherwork. VISUAL ARTS There are a number of art galleries around the city, showcasing exhibitions and running workshops throughout the year. The Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery is located beside City Hall on Ruthven St, and was established in 1937, making it the oldest public art gallery in regional Queensland. In 1994, the gallery relocated from City Hall into its own purposely-refurbished, award-winning facility next door. The gallery is surrounded by attractive inner-city parks and is a short stroll across the Village Green to Toowoomba’s new City Library.
LIVE TOOWOOMBA
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