Expressions of Interest Now Open
Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance is inviting Expressions of Interest from Aboriginal artists and collectives to be considered for the 2027 Exhibition Program in the Bindarray Gallery at The Gallery, 6 Park Avenue, Coffs Harbour.
The 2027 Exhibition Program will feature up to five solo exhibitions, showcasing contemporary Aboriginal art, culture and storytelling while supporting artists to build sustainable creative careers.
A gallery dedicated to First Nations art, culture and storytelling
Located on Gumbayniggrr Country 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 proposals 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 or collective 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 the many activities held 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.
Successful Exhibitors Will Receive
Artists and collectives selected for the 2027 Exhibition Program will receive professional support from The Gallery throughout the exhibition process, including:
- Curatorial guidance and exhibition development support
- 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 The Gallery’s Artist Features initiative, selected exhibitors will also be invited to participate in a recorded 30-minute conversation with our media team, exploring their creative practice, cultural influences and artistic journey. The recording will be published as an editorial on The Gallery website and provided to the artist for their own promotional use.
Where appropriate and by mutual agreement, selected exhibitors may also have the opportunity to participate in exhibition openings, artist talks, online presentations and media opportunities. These opportunities are subject to availability and funding.
The Gallery is a commercial gallery, with all exhibited artworks available for purchase unless otherwise agreed. The Gallery retains a 20% commission on artwork sales, with 80% of the sale price returned directly to the artist.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
To be considered for the 2027 Exhibition Program, applicants must:
- Identify as Aboriginal and provide proof of Aboriginality.
- Be a practising visual artist working in any contemporary or traditional medium.
- Submit a cohesive exhibition EOI suitable for the Bindarray Room.
- Be available to exhibit during one of the nominated exhibition periods in 2027.
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
Artists from outside these Local Government Areas are also encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest.
Exhibition proposals should present a cohesive body of work that aligns with the vision of The Gallery. Where possible, proposed works should not have been exhibited within the Mid North Coast region during the previous 12 months.
Expressions of Interest will be assessed on artistic merit, the strength of the exhibition proposal, alignment with The Gallery’s exhibition program, and the overall balance of the 2027 exhibition schedule.
Gallery Specifications
The Bindarray Gallery is suited to a range of exhibition formats, including painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, mixed media and installation.
Several floor to ceiling windows punctuate the lineal metres of the gallery
Dimensions: 11m (l) x 7.5m (w)
Proposal Requirements
Please submit:
- One-page CV or résumé, listing past exhibitions, residencies and education
- Artist biography (up to 100 words)
- Exhibition proposal (up to 300 words)
- Up to 10 images of recent work (max file size 1 MB per image)
- Preferred exhibition date (Exhibitions 1–5) and any dates you are unavailable during 2027.
- Website and/or social media links (if available)
To support accessibility, applicants may submit a video or audio presentation in place of a written artist statement or exhibition proposal. Videos should be no longer than five minutes and shared via a private YouTube or Vimeo link.
Key Dates
Applications Open: Now
Applications Close: 30 September 2026
Successful applicants will be notified during October 2026, with exhibitions scheduled throughout 2027.
2027 Exhibition Schedule
The 2027 Exhibition Program will feature up to five solo/collective 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 submit your EOI
Submissions must be submitted online via the 2017 Exhibition EOI Form.
Before submitting, please review the full eligibility criteria, gallery specifications and proposal requirements using the link below.
2017 Expression of Interest Form
Applications close Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 5.00 pm (AEST).
We look forward to receiving your proposal and partnering with artists to share contemporary Aboriginal art, culture and stories through The Gallery.
Feature image: A selection of artworks by Aboriginal artists exhibited at The Gallery. All artworks © the respective artists and reproduced with permission.
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