I set off early, towards the North West, on an adventure of discovery to the seaside towns which beckoned me every time I heard their name. The reputation of abundant creativity nestled throughout the region danced in my dizzy head. But before I caught sight of the ocean I was whisked off the highway and into art with the vivacious Beverly Skurulis. Her beautifully restored heritage hall, now the Latrobe Fine Art Gallery, provided the perfect backdrop for her work and a collection of other Tasmanian fine and contemporary works.
The timing could not have been better for my arrival at the Burnie Regional Art Gallery, perfectly matched to a floor talk by artists whose work was currently on exhibition. Three artists in one sitting, a glass of wine and cheese, followed by interpretation like no other.
Gallery Director, Greg Leong, entertained us with his light-hearted instruction to Wynyard artist Jan Suter. Raising his arms in the air and pointing to her landscape watercolour, Greg exclaimed ‘No birds Jan, no birds!’.
Penguin is one of those places that I had dreamt about, and I could have sat in the haphazard Groovy Penguin cafe staring at the ocean for all eternity. As I reluctantly passed by later in the day, crowds were oozing along the sidewalk hoping for a night filled with the live beats from within. For vistas of an entirely different kind I headed to the famed murals at Sheffield. With walking map in hand I roamed the streets for hours contemplating the scenic and sublime.
Tanya Olivia Hussey
BOAT HARBOUR
Killynaught
17,266 Bass Highway, Boat Harbour TAS 7321
Web: www.killynaught.com.au
BOAT HARBOUR
The Lead Boomerang
17,317 Bass Highway, Boat Harbour TAS 7321
Web: www.theleadboomerang.com.au
Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00-16:00
BURNIE
Burnie Coastal Art Group Gallery
211 Mount Street, Upper Burnie TAS
BURNIE
Burnie Regional Art Gallery
Burnie Arts & Function Centre, Wilmot Street, Burnie TAS 7320
Web: www.burniearts.net
Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00-16:30; Sat-Sun-PH 13:30-16:30
BURNIE
Dean Walker Designs
4 Wilmot St, Burnie TAS 7320
Hours: Mon-Fri 09:00-17:30; Sat 09:00-14:00
BURNIE
Hot Mother Lounge
70 Wilson Street, Burnie TAS
BURNIE
Makers’ Workshop
2 Bass Highway, Burnie TAS 7320
Web: www.makersworkshop.com.au
Hours: Daily 09:00-17:00
DEVONPORT
Devonport Regional Gallery
45 Stewart Street, Devonport TAS 7310
Web: www.devonportgallery.com
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00; Sun-PH 12:00-17:00
DEVONPORT
NW Regional Craft Centre
11 Best Street, Devonport TAS 7310
Web: www.devonportsouvenirwoodcraft.com
KING ISLAND
King Island Cultural Centre
Currie Harbour, Currie, King Island TAS 7256
Web: www.kingislandculturalcentre.blogspot.com
Hours: Wed-Sun 13:00-16:00
KING ISLAND
Lollipop
Main Street, Currie Harbour, Currie TAS 7256
Hours: Daily, by donation
KING ISLAND
Nautilus Cafe
Edward Street, Currie TAS 7256
KING ISLAND
Portside Gallery
Grassy Harbour Road, Grassy Harbour TAS 7256
Hours: Sun & Tue 10:00-16:00
KING ISLAND
The Pottery
Edward Street, Currie Harbour, Currie TAS 7256
Hours: Daily, by donation
LATROBE
AM Latrobe Fine Art Gallery
41a Gilbert Street, Latrobe TAS
Web: www.skurulis.com.au
Hours: Tue-Sun 10:00-16:00; Jun-Sep most days, phone to confirm
PENGUIN
The Groovy Penguin
74 Main Road, Penguin TAS 7316
Web: www.groovypenguin.com.au
RAILTON
Town of Topiary
Main Street & Cockers Street, Railton TAS
Web: www.townof topiary.com.au
Hours: 24 hrs / 7 days
SHEFFIELD
Paradox Bazaar
Pioneer Crescent, Sheffield TAS 7306
Web: www.paradozbazaar.com.au
SHEFFIELD
Sheffield Town of Murals
Mural Park and various town buildings, Sheffield TAS
Web: www.sheffieldtasmania.com.au
Hours: 24 hrs / 7 days
SHEFFIELD
Sheffield Working Arts Space
15 Albert Street, Sheffield TAS
Hours: Summer 7 days; Winter Fri-Mon
SHEFFIELD
The World of Marbles
34 Main Street, Sheffield TAS 7306
Web: www.worldofmarbles.com.au
Hours: Daily 09:00-17:00
STANLEY
Touchwood
31 Church Street, Stanley TAS
Web: www.touchwoodstanley.com.au
WILMOT
Letterbox Trail
various locations, Wilmot TAS 7310
Web: www.sheffieldcradleinfo.com.au
Hours: 24 hrs / 7 days
WYNYARD
Wonders of Wynyard Gallery
8 Exhibition Link, Wynyard TAS
Phone: 03 6443 8330 Email: wowreception<at>warwyn.tas.gov.au
WYNYARD
artscape.comm
45 Jackson Street, Wynyard TAS 7325
Hours: Every second Saturday
Tasmanian Regional Arts has endeavoured to ensure details of venues are correct at time of publishing however due to reasons beyond our control we recommend calling ahead and confirming opening hours with venue operators. We understand that this listing is only a small sample. Please forward via email the details of other known public regional arts venues or corrections to Tasmanian Regional Arts.