Perc Tucker Regional Gallery facts for kids
View of corner of Perc Tucker Regional Gallery since the Flinders Street Mall Redevelopment
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| Established | 1981 |
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| Location | Corner of Flinders and Denham Streets, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Type | Art gallery |
| Collection size | 2,000+ works |
The Perc Tucker Regional Gallery (say it like 'purse') is a special public art gallery in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It's a place where you can see amazing artworks!
The gallery is located in the heart of Townsville. It has a huge collection of over 2,000 artworks. The gallery also brings in exciting art shows from all over Australia and even other countries. It first opened its doors on September 25, 1981.
The gallery loves to show art that connects to North Queensland and the Tropics. This includes modern art, historical art, and art by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artists. They also have art from Papua New Guinea. You can join programs to support the gallery, like art classes, tours, talks by artists, and workshops.
Contents
Art Collection and Shows
The Perc Tucker Regional Gallery has a main idea for all its art. This idea also guides their art shows and activities. It helps everyone understand the art better.
The Tropics Theme
The main idea for the whole collection is "The Tropics". This means that art chosen for the gallery usually connects to this theme.
The "Tropics" theme is looked at in a wide way. It's not just about the weather or plants. It also explores how people think about the tropics. It looks at the tropics as a real place and as an idea.
The gallery especially focuses on art made in the tropics that shows the local environment. That's why art from Tropical North Queensland is very important. The gallery also collects art from other places. This art might explore ideas about culture, history, and what makes a place special.
The collection includes all kinds of art, like paintings, sculptures, and more.
Ephemera: Seaside Sculptures
| Strand Ephemera | |
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Logo
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| Dates | Dates vary |
| Frequency | Biennial |
| Location(s) | The Strand, Townsville |
| Inaugurated | 21 September 2001 – 30 September 2011 |
| Organised by | Perc Tucker Regional Gallery |
| Website | Strand Ephemera |
Every two years, the gallery puts on a special event called Ephemera. This event takes place for about ten days on The Strand, Townsville. It started in 2001. The goal was to show off public art and celebrate the new look of The Strand beachfront.
Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition
During Ephemera, you can see amazing sculptures. These artworks are displayed along the two-kilometer beachfront. There are also fun activities like guided tours, performances, art workshops, and talks by the artists.
Ephemera's Journey Through Time
The seaside sculpture show was first called Strand Ephemera. In 2021, it got a new name: Ephemera: Seaside Sculptures. This change celebrated its 20th anniversary. Each Ephemera show has featured between 20 and 34 artworks. They are usually displayed for 10 to 12 days every odd year. The exact dates change each time.
The very first Strand Ephemera in 2001 showed 26 sculptures by over 30 artists. Seven permanent artworks already on The Strand were also part of the event. These included:
- Coconuts by Thierry Auriac
- Flagpoles and pennants by Thierry Auriac
- Tree Bracelets by Thierry Auriac
- Hambeluna: Spirit Rising by Lyndall Milani
- Flotsam and Jetsam I by Anne Lord
- Flotsam and Jetsam II by Anne Lord
- Mixture of memory and desire 4 by Robert Preston.
The second Strand Ephemera lasted 12 days. It showed 37 sculptures and art setups. An artist named Gavin Ryan won an award for his artwork called 'Behold the Lyin' fish'.
In 2005, the third Strand Ephemera displayed 43 artworks. A new event called 'Picnic on the Grass' was added. People were invited to bring their lunch and blankets. They could enjoy live music and performances.
In 2007, the show received funding from the Australia Council for the Arts. This allowed five national Australian artists to show their work. Their art was displayed inside shipping containers along The Strand.
The fifth Strand Ephemera in 2009 featured 22 artworks for 11 days. Visitors could vote for their favorite artwork. They could also enter their own photos of the artworks into a competition.
In 2011, Strand Ephemera VI had 36 artworks. About 70,000 people visited the 11-day show. There were live performances, including daily Zen raking and music. Two artists, Girrungun Artists and Jiman and Erica Gray, shared a big art award. Aden McLeod won the People's Choice Award.
Visitors were also encouraged to take photos of the art. Danielle Leslie won the adult photo competition. Elisa Ernst won the competition for those under 18.
The Percival Portrait Painting Prize
| The Percival Portrait Painting Prize | |
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| Presented by | Perc Tucker Regional Gallery |
| Country | Australia |
| First awarded | 2007 |
The Percival Portrait Painting Prize is a special art award in Townsville, Queensland. It happens every two years. Artists create portraits, and the best one wins a prize.
Percival Award History
The Percival Portrait Painting Prize started in 2007. It was named after Perc Tucker, the person the gallery is named after. The award helps people learn how to say "Perc" correctly.
The first Percival had 122 entries. These included paintings, sculptures, and drawings. After that, it was decided that only two-dimensional artworks (like paintings) would be allowed.
The Percivals was first planned to happen every year. But after 2008, it was decided to hold it every two years. This way, it would happen in different years than the Strand Ephemera. In 2008, 138 artworks were entered. 35 were chosen for the main show. Another 75 were shown in a special "Salon des Refusés" section.
In 2010, 124 portraits were entered. The exhibition was visited by 14,450 people.
Past Winners of the Percival
| Year | Award | Prize money | Artist | Winning work |
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| 2007 | Philip Leong Investments Art Award | $3,000 | Barbara Cheshire | Jack |
| 2007 | Townsville City Council Highly Commended | – | Martin Kizur | Miluska Kizur – Pharmacist |
| 2007 | Townsville City Council Commended | – | Eddie Omelaniuk | Hicks and Benny |
| 2007 | Top Frames People's Choice Award | – | Catherine Ogden | Catherine |
| 2007 | Costel Vasilescu Encouragement Award for young artists under 25 years | – | Alexander Bowden | Jonathan |
| 2007 | Costel Vasilescu Encouragement Award Highly Commended | – | Clint Searston | One over three |
| 2007 | Costel Vasilescu Encouragement Award | – | Aaron Richardson | The Twisted Photocopier |
| 2008 | Xstrata Portrait Award | $5,000 | Nick Mourzakis | A Portrait of Alex Wodak |
| 2008 | Phillip Leong Art Award | – | Sinclair MacLagan | Resolute: Brigadier John Caligari |
| 2008 | Sally Elliott Award | – | Catherine Odgen | Sally |
| 2008 | Xstrata Encouragement Award | – | Yasmin Fisher | Kath |
| 2008 | Costel Vasilescu Encouragement for Young Artists & Marion O'Shea Encouragement Award | – | Peter Wright | Mac Core |
| 2008 | Top Frames People's Choice Award | – | Jan Hynes | The Artist and his Dog |
| 2010 | Xstrata Portrait Award | $20,000 | Ted May | Tate Adams |
| 2010 | Costel Vasilescu People's Choice Award | $2,000 | Ann Cape | Welcome Home |
| 2012 | Xstrata Portrait Award | $40,000 | Kevin Lincoln | Self Portrait |
| 2012 | Ergon Energy People's Choice Award | $2,000 | Jun Chen | David North |
| 2012 | Costel Vasilescu People's Unpackers Prize | $1,000 | Donna Beningfield | The Beginning |
| 2014 | Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Prize | $40,000 | Francis Giacco | Charles Blackman |
| 2014 | DUO Magazine Percival Photographic Portrait Prize | $10,000 | Roderick McNicol | The Late Blossoming of Jack Charles |
| 2014 | Glencore People's Choice Award | $2,000 | Robert Douma | Red |
| 2016 | Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Prize | $40,000 | Lisa Adams | Revelation |
| 2016 | Glencore People's Choice Award | $1,000 | Tessa McOnie | Untitled |
| 2016 | Townsville 150th Anniversary Portrait Painting Award | $10,000 | Barbara Cheshire | I Remember |
| 2016 | DUO Magazine Percival Photographic Portrait Prize | $10,000 | Brett Canet-Gibson | The Life of Riley |
| 2016 | DUO Magazine People's Choice Award | $1,000 | Rosanna Kersh | Big Kahuna |
Major Award
Other prizes and awards
Gallery Building History
The building that is now the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery was built in 1885. It was originally for the Union Bank of Australia. A famous architect named F.D.G. Stanley designed it. At first, it was a single-story building. A second story was added in the early 1930s.
The Union Bank later became the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ). The building was its main office in the region until 1980. That year, the Townsville City Council bought the historic building. They wanted it to be Townsville's first public art gallery. The Queensland Government helped pay for the building. However, most of the money for the gallery's start and running costs came from the local council.
The Perc Tucker Regional Gallery opened in 1981. The Mayor of Townsville at the time, Mike Reynolds, officially opened it. The gallery was named after a former Mayor, Alderman Perc Tucker.
The building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's a very important historical building.
Who Was Perc Tucker?
Perc Tucker was an important politician in North Queensland. He became a State Member of Parliament for North Townsville in 1960. Later, he became the leader of the Labor Party in Queensland.
In 1974, he lost his seat in Parliament. But in 1976, he became the Mayor of Townsville. As Mayor, he did many important things for the city. Besides the usual tasks like roads and water, he helped build the second stage of the Ross River Dam. He also helped design and build the Townsville Civic Theatre. He developed Flinders Mall and planned for the art gallery. This gallery later became known as 'Perc Tucker'. Perc Tucker passed away in 1980 while still serving as Mayor.
