Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt Award and exhibition opening

Published on 23 June 2025

The winner of the Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt Award will be announced at 2pm on Saturday 28 June 2025 by Central Goldfields Shire Mayor, Councillor Grace La Vella, who will also officially launch the exhibition.  Everyone is invited to attend this special occasion.

Nineteen art quilts from around Australia have been selected as finalists for the award which will be on display at Central Goldfields Art Gallery until 12 October.

The winner of the prestigious Award will be selected by Linda Steele, President of the OzQuilt Network Inc., along with Helen Kaptein, Art Gallery Coordinator at Central Goldfields Art Gallery. The winner will receive $3,000 and the art quilt will become part of the Central Goldfields Art Gallery permanent collection. The winner of the $500 Highly Commended Award will also be announced.

This is the 8th time that the biennial Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt Award has been presented by Central Goldfields Art Gallery after being initiated by Maryborough art quilter, Jenny Bacon and the then Gallery Manager, Kay Parkin as a homage to the region’s proud textile history.

The exhibition brings together leading exponents of art quilting from around Australia with artists contributing work from Western Australia through to Tasmania. All of the art quilts have been created in the last two years. Central Goldfields Art Gallery is the sole venue presenting this remarkable exhibition of contemporary Australian art quilts.

Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Councillor Grace La Vella said the Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt Award has become an event our community looks forward to.

“We’re very proud of this national award and its celebration of our rich textile history. To have such significant works of art from across the nation right here in our Gallery is a real achievement.”

“The quilts themselves are incredibly diverse, and you can see there’s an enormous amount of time and skill that goes into these unique pieces, which makes this a very special exhibition.”

Visitors will be surprised by the way these artists express their art form. A wide of range of materials have been used from printed and recycled materials, including digital prints and coffee bags through to hand-painted and hand-dyed silks, cottons and wool. 

Dianne Firth’s entry for example (right) responded to recent rainfall in NSW that had finally filled a decade-long dry lake. Whilst Sue Broadway, Margery Goodall and Jackie Gorring have all recycled or repurposed materials for their artwork. Many have been inspired directly by nature in their local environment and changing landscapes.

Artists included in the exhibition are: Linda Balding, Sue Broadway, Anna Brown,
Sue de Vanny, Margery Goodall, Dianne Firth, Jackie Gorring, Lynne Hargreaves, Andi Hernan, Judy Hooworth, Suzanne Lyle, Paula Martin, Beth and Trevor Reid, Julie-Anne Rogers, Brenda Gael Smith, Zina Sofer, Greg Somerville, Sallt Swan and Zara Zannettino.

The exhibition opening will be a relaxing and enjoyable occasion. Refreshments will be provided and the exhibition is free to visit. All attendees at the opening are welcome to vote in the People’s Choice Award.

Central Goldfields Art Gallery is in the Old Fire Station, 1 Neill Street, Maryborough.
The Gallery is open from Thursday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm, and entry is free.

For more information, visit www.centralgoldfieldsartgallery.com.au 

For more information and interviews, contact Central Goldfields Shire Communications and Engagement team at media@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au