About Us

Award-Winning Art Gallery

Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery has won many local, state and national awards in the tourism and local government sector for excellence in education, publications, cultural development and programming. Our publications have again been nationally acknowledged through Museums Australia Multimedia and Publication Design Awards (MAPDA). At a ceremony in Melbourne recently, top honours went to Book Club as 'Best in Show' and Best Catalogue (small) with BOARD receiving High Commendation in the same category. Both publications were the collaborative work of designer Stephen Goddard and Gallery Curator Meryl Ryan. Since MAPDA's launch 14 years ago, the team has attracted more than 15 awards with this being the third 'Best in Show'. Over the years, the gallery's programs, particular Aboriginal programming, have also been widely recognised. In 2016, the gallery received two Museums & Galleries National Awards (MAGNA) acknowledging important 2015 projects: (in)visible: the First Peoples and War, and Lore & Order. In 2015, the gallery received two Museum and Galleries NSW IMAGinE awards for the significant exhibition project (in)visible: the First Peoples and War and for our state-of-the art lighting upgrade. In 2013, the gallery and Aboriginal Reference Group were Highly Commended in the public programs category of the MAGNA for the project Stencils Past, Stencils Last, which also took out an M&G NSW IMAGinE Award in 2012. These accolades acknowledge great work in presenting projects and engaging audiences across the country and the state respectively.

[from top][from top] On behalf of the gallery, Gallery Director Debbie Abraham and Curator Meryl Ryan collect the MAPDA for Best in Show for Book Club in Melbourne in 2018; Douglas and Selena Archibald from the Aboriginal Reference Group, and Debbie Abraham, receive two MAGNAs in 2016; Meryl Ryan accepts two 2015 IMAGinE Awards from Jennifer Barrett, Chair of M&GNSW Board; the team from the Stencils Past Stencils Last project receive the 2013 IMAGinE Award; Debbie Abraham and Meryl Ryan celebrate the MAPDA for Best in Show in Perth in 2011.

2018

MAPDA Best in Show – Book Club

MAPDA Best Catalogue – Level A Book Club

MAPDA Best Catalogue – Level A Highly Commended BOARD

2017

IMAGinE Award Highly Commended level 2 Engagement Programs: Lake Macquarie: Living Cultures (working watercraft)

2016

IMAGinE Award for the exhibition project Lore & Order

MAGNA for the Temporary or Travelling Exhibition category with (in)visible: the First Peoples and War

MAGNA for the Indigenous Project or Keeping Place category with Lore & Order

2015

IMAGinE Award for the exhibition project (in)visible: The First Peoples and War

IMAGinE Award for Sustainability Projects for new energy efficient lighting system.

MAPDA Best Catalogue (under 64 pages) Highly Commended Wild Side

MAPDA Best Poster - Level A - Highly Commended Wild Side

2014

MAPDA Best Catalogue (under 64 pages) Look closely now...

MAPDA Best Catalogue (under 64 pages) Highly Commended I SPY

2013

MAGNA Highly Commended / Public Program category for Stencils Past, Stencils Last

2012

MAPDA Best Catalogue (under 64 pages) (re)vision

IMAGinE Award for Education and Public Engagement Stencils Past, Stencils Last

2011

MAPDA Best in Show – Carnival

MAPDA Best Poster – Level A Carnival exhibition catalogue

NSW Local Government and Shire Association Cultural Award [LGSACA] for Aboriginal Cultural Development for A Possum Skin Cloak by the Lake

2010

MAPDA Best Catalogue (under 64 pages) The Museum Effect

MAPDA Corporate – Level A for Gallery Promotional Look

2009

IMAGinE Award for Education and Public Engagement for yapang marruma: making our way (stories of the Stolen)

MAPDA Best Catalogue (under 64 pages) Adam Geczy: Concerts

MAPDA Best Catalogue (under 64 pages) Highly Commended Cold Front

2008

NSW LGSACA for Aboriginal Cultural Development

2007

MAPDA Gallery Program and Corporate Branding

MAPDA Best Catalogue (under 64 pages) Highly Commended Earth cry

MAPDA Best Catalogue (under 64 pages) Highly Commended Found out

2006

MAPDA Best in Show – colour(less)

MAPDA Best Catalogue (under 64 pages) colour(less)

NSW LGSACA for Aboriginal Cultural Development

2005

National LGSACA (Commendation) for Strengthening Indigenous Communities

NSW LGSACA for Aboriginal Cultural Development

MAPDA Best Catalogue (under 64 pages) Highly Commended Traverse

2004

NSW LGSACA for Best Practice in Managing a Cultural Institution

Hunter Regional Award for Excellence in Heritage and Cultural Tourism

2003

Tourism NSW Award for Business Excellence in Heritage and Cultural Tourism

Hunter Regional Award for Excellence in Heritage and Cultural Tourism