Exhibit at The Gallery
Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance is now inviting exhibition expressions of interest for our 2027 Exhibition Program in the Bindarray Gallery at The Gallery, 6 Park Avenue, Coffs Harbour.
A gallery dedicated to First Nations art, culture and storytelling
Located in the heart of Coffs Harbour, The Gallery presents an annual exhibition program celebrating contemporary Aboriginal art, cultural storytelling and artistic excellence. Up to five artists or collectives will be selected to exhibit in the Bindarray Gallery during 2027.
We welcome expressions of interest from emerging and established Aboriginal artists whose work aligns with our vision of sharing culture, strengthening communities and supporting creative careers.
The Bindarray Gallery
The Bindarray Gallery is an intimate but highly visible exhibition space designed for solo selling exhibitions.
Positioned on the ground floor of The Gallery, the space features a striking floor-to-ceiling public-facing window, providing exceptional visibility to visitors, pedestrians and audiences participating in activities throughout Coffs Harbour’s city centre.
The space comfortably accommodates exhibitions of both large-scale and smaller works across a range of mediums, making it suitable for diverse artistic practices.
What selected artists receive
Selected artists and collectives receive:
- Professional curatorial support throughout exhibition development
- Professional installation and deinstallation
- Marketing and promotion through The Gallery website, newsletter and social media channels
- Professional exhibition photography and documentation
- Artwork sales and enquiry management
- An artist profile featured on The Gallery website
As part of our Artist Features initiative, exhibiting artists are also invited to participate in a professionally recorded 30-minute conversation with our media team, exploring their creative practice, cultural influences and artistic journey. The recording will be featured as an editorial on our website and provided to the artist for their own promotional use.
Where suitable and by mutual agreement, artists may also be supported through exhibition openings, artist talks, online presentations, media opportunities and editorial promotion. These opportunities are subject to availability and funding.
Artwork is offered for sale throughout the exhibition. The Gallery retains a 20% commission on all artwork sales, with 80% returned directly to the artist.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Identify as Aboriginal and provide proof of Aboriginality.
- Be practising visual artists working in any contemporary or traditional medium.
- Submit a cohesive exhibition proposal suitable for the Bindarray Gallery.
Preference will be given to Aboriginal artists who live and work on Gumbaynggirr, Dunghutti, Biripi and Worimi Country across the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, including the following Local Government Areas:
- Coffs Harbour
- Bellingen
- Nambucca Valley
- Kempsey
- Port Macquarie-Hastings
- MidCoast
Aboriginal Artists from outside these Local Government Areas are also encouraged to apply.
Proposed exhibitions should present a cohesive body of work and, where possible, not have been exhibited within the Mid North Coast region during the previous 12 months.
Gallery Specifications
The Bindarray Gallery is suited to a range of exhibition formats, including painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, mixed media and installation.
Gallery Specifications
Bindarray Gallery: Dimensions: 9.8 (l) x 3.6 (w) x 3.4 (h) m
Several floor to ceiling windows punctuate the lineal metres of the gallery
Proposal Requirements
- Proof of Aboriginality
- One-page CV or Resume,listing past exhibitions,residencies and education
- Artist bio (up to 200 words)
- Exhibition proposal (up to 150 words)
- Up to 10 images of recent work (maximum 1 MB per image)
- Preferred exhibition period (Exhibitions 1–5)
- Website and/or social media links (if available)
- 5-minute audio presentation (MP3 under 5 minutes and 600 MB. Both landscape (16:9) and vertical (9:16) formats
To support accessibility, applicants may submit a video or audio presentation in place of a written artist statement or exhibition proposal.
Key Dates
Applications Open: Now
Applications Close: 30 September 2026
Successful applicants will be notified during November 2026, with exhibitions scheduled throughout 2027.
2027 Exhibition Schedule
The 2027 Exhibition Program will feature up to five solo exhibitions, each presented over an approximately eight-week exhibition period.
Applicants are invited to nominate their preferred exhibition period as part of their proposal. While every effort will be made to accommodate preferences, final exhibition dates will be determined by The Gallery.
The proposed exhibition periods are:
| Exhibition | Exhibition Dates |
|---|---|
| Exhibition 1 | Tuesday 2 February – Saturday 27 March 2027 |
| Exhibition 2 | Tuesday 30 March – Saturday 22 May 2027 |
| Exhibition 3 | Tuesday 25 May – Saturday 17 July 2027 |
| Exhibition 4 | Tuesday 20 July – Saturday 11 September 2027 |
| Exhibition 5 | Tuesday 14 September – Saturday 6 November 2027 |
How to Apply
Expressions of interest must be submitted online via the Exhibition Expression of Interest Form.
Before submitting you expression of interest, please review the full eligibility criteria, gallery specifications and proposal requirements above.
Close Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 5.00 pm (AEST).
The Gallery
6 Park Avenue, Coffs Harbour