Hiatus for prestigious Art Prize

Published on 04 June 2021

The Pro Hart Outback Art Prize will be postponed this year with the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery set to close for six months for extensive repairs.

The gallery will close in September for approximately $1.7 million in repairs, including full replacement of the roof and floors, repairs to walls, and the installation of a new humidifier and air conditioning.

Although the repairs are good news for the long term life of the gallery, they will disrupt the Pro Hart Outback Art Prize which is held in September each year.

Council is planning to set up a smaller makeshift gallery at the rear of the Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (Geocentre) during the main gallery's closure, however Council's General Manager, Jay Nankivell, said the venue would be too small to host an event such as the Art Prize.

"Our staff have spoken with the Hart Family and all parties agreed it would be best to postpone the next Art Prize until the gallery has reopened,” said Mr Nankivell.

"They were very understanding, and from our perspective it's important that our most prestigious art event and exhibition be held in the gallery proper once it is refurbished.

"In the meantime we'll do our best to host smaller rolling events and exhibitions in the GeoCentre hall to ensure we still have art on offer for locals and visitors."

Council will also rent a shop front in Town Square for community workshops, retail sales, and other gallery programs.