Presidents Report AGM 2026

Once again, it has been a busy year for Borderline! From September 2025 we have been working through activities connected with our successful grant application with Create NSW. Two final workshops associated with the grant were held– Lizzie Horne’s Aluminium Etching at Wallangarra Hall in October 2025 and Liz Powell Book Binding this year at The Engine Drivers Barracks. Both were well attended with positive feedback and fed into exhibition work.

What has become a regular exhibition for us with Texas Regional Art Gallery finished in September 2025. Openings there are always well attended with a great afternoon tea. Thanks to Jane Henry, a Borderliner and a Texan, for coordinating. With shows like this we continue to support isolated and regional galleries.

The first of the grant supported shows was at Ceramic Break Sculpture Park, Warialda. Thanks go to Kerry Cannon assisted by Barbara Downey from Ceramic Break for making the exhibition possible and to Linda and Geoff Nye, and Sue and Bob Jurd who transported the exhibition to and from Warialda. Thanks to Helene Grimley and those who attended the opening for Borderline.

Our whirlwind exhibition tour – Regenerate Reimagine Renewal- kicked off again in 2026 at Gunnedah Bi-Centennial Art Gallery. Thanks go to Gay Landeta for initiating contact with this lovely gallery. She is a serious contender for the “Herding Cats Award” because of her spreadsheeting and pursuit of participants to fulfill deadlines. Grant funding enabled us to employ excellent regional couriers to get work to and from Gunnedah. The gallery curator was very impressed with the variety and standard of works and our organisation as a whole. Thanks also to Helen and Chris Adams for travelling to represent Borderline at the opening.

In between our exhibitions members found time to put in a strong representation of at SRAG’s LOL Exhibition, then there was a well-deserved break for those who wished to participate in the Art Retreat at “Tumbledown” in April. Supported by grant funding this year with strong attendance, it was a very fruitful working weekend.

Back to the exhibition trail! Next on our list was Glen Innes Art Gallery. They are a good group to work with and we had good sales over the exhibition period with a particularly strong opening event, supported by attendance of gallery volunteers and Borderline members. This exhibition ended up overlapping with the beginning of our final show on the road, at Surat on Balonne Gallery in central Queensland. Thanks to Sue Jurd for liaising with the gallery there, and thanks to Borderliners who really pulled out the stops to provide work for this final exhibition of 2026. We were fortunate to have grant funding to employ couriers for transport of works. When Surat is finishes we will have completed all our activities and fulfilled our grant commitments. The title of the grant application was Cultural Access -Regenerating Art Communities and I think we achieved that in spades.

In between all this the normal operations of the association have continued. Members voted to cease the Barracks Art Market, feeling it had run its course. In conjunction with the Railway Markets we are now running small Members 4 Members workshops in the Barracks coordinated by Sue Jurd. We donated funds to SRAG for the acquisition budget for the Stanthorpe Art Prize and thanks to Krishna Heffernan for representing Borderline as sponsors on the opening nightOur Socials exposure on Face Book, organised by Helen Adams, has really taken off, and . Gay Landeta’s wrangling of the website continues to provide us with strong internet presence. Thank you ladies. All the executive have been working hard for the last year, supporting all our projects and activities, and as President I particularly want to thank them for their efforts and energy.

Thanks once again to the Historical Railway Society for our terrific home base, The Engine Drivers Barracks.

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Borderline Regional Arts: What’s On September 2026

Each month our members receive updates of exhibition and workshop opportunities. Here is our September What’s On. If you are interested in getting these you can become a member – download the PDF form here.

Borderline Exhibitions : 

Borderline at Surat-on-Balone Art Gallery Qld  “Regeneration” 6th September to 19 October 

Other Exhibition Opportunities :

ACS Gallery – Spring Art Prize– 24^th September to 26^th Oct. Entry forms due 17^th Sept. Works due 21^st September. $1300 in prizes. Entry forms available at gallery or on request from email. 

Gallery is open till 6.30 for an informal opening on 25th Sept.

Entries are open for Burnie Print Prize 2027 see burniearts.com website

Entries open for the Scenic Rim Small Sculpture Prize – for more information see their website

Entries open soon for Armidale Summer Show – watch their website

AMO Gallery Stanthorpe – Members of Art Works exhibition opens 5^th Oct till end of January 2027

Workshops : 

Members for Members Workshops. At Engine Drivers Barracks Railway Museum Tenterfield 10am till 12pm. $20 per person, 3^rd Oct. Contact Sue Jurd sjurd@halenet.com.au

Helle Jorgensen will be tutoring for Borderline 5^th and 6^th Dec. at Wallangarra School of Arts. 

2027

Open Exhibition Opportunities :

Tenterfield Show at Tenterfield Showgrounds 5^th &6^th February. Celebrating 150 Years

Autumn Exhibition ACS Gallery Tenterfield. Beginning at Easter, dates to be announced

Borderline Exhibition Opportunities : 

Borderline at Texas Regional Gallery Sat 8^th May – Sunday 20^th June

Borderline at SRAG 25^th June to 29^th August.

Other Exhibitions and Opportunities :

“Nocturns” Exhibition by Gay Landeta, Jo Eagle and Liz Powell with be at Art Space, Stanthorpe March 22 – May 23.

If you are a member of Art Space at the railway in Stanthorpe and are interested in exhibiting next year contact Sue Jurd.

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We have had a busy few years!

Our group exhibitions :

2026 :

• Regeneration | Surat on Balone Art Gallery, QLD | Sept 5 – Oct 18 |
• Regeneration and Renewal | Glen Innes Art Gallery, NSW | Aug 4 – Sept 11 |
• Regeneration Reimagine and Renewal | Bicentennial Art Gallery Gunnedah NSW | Mar 27 – May 8 |

2025  :

• Regeneration Reimagine and Renewal | Ceramic Break Sculpture Park, Warialda NSW | Sept 7 – Nov 9 |
•  Flat Out Like a Lizard Drinking | Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery, QLD | May 9 – July 6 |
•  Flat Out | Texas Regional Art Gallery QLD | Aug 3 – Sept 12 |

(Note: the ‘Regeneration’ themed exhibitions were supported by a grant from Create NSW which also funded four workshops with guest tutors which stimulated work for the exhibitions.)    

2024 :

• Borderline at Richard Randall Studios | Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens, Brisbane | Mar 29 – Apr 1 |
• Where I Find Peace | Rosalie Art Gallery, Goombungee QLD | Sep 11 – 13 Oct
• Borderline Winter | ACS Gallery Tenterfield NSW | June 22 – July 28

2023 :    

• Journey on the Border | Inverell Art Gallery, NSW | June 9 – July 21
•  Journey on the Border | Glen Innes Art Gallery, NSW | Mar 25 – Apr 22
• Open-Ended | Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery QLD | Mar 2 – Apr 10
• Open-Ended Revised | Texas Art Gallery | Apr 11 – May 13

2022 :

• Journey on the Border | Surat on Balone Art Gallery, QLD | Oct 8 – Nov 20

(Note ‘Journey on the Border’ exhibitions were supported by funding from NSW Regional Arts Development Fund, which also provided a grant for a series of workshops in 2022)

2021 :    

• Borderline at Artists Collective Studio | Tenterfield NSW | Oct 2 – Nov 1
• Prints from Borderline | Texas Regional Gallery, QLD | June 27 – July 30
• Beyond the Mask | Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery, QLD | Apr 29 – June 13  
• From Here To There | Warwick Art Gallery, QLD | Jan 28 – Mar 6

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Member4members Workshops

We are excited by this new concept, a way to harness all the brilliance of our members for other members benefit. Bi-monthly on a Saturday morning you will find one of our Borderline members as tutor, sharing techniques, skills or artful ideas to a small group setting (6 max) at the Railway Barracks.

Members get to develop skills and support another artist by contributing $20 to the tutor, the tutor gets to practice teaching and makes a bit of pocket money. It’s a win/win all round!

Here is a beautiful result from our last workshop. Tutor Susan Heywood. Artist Sue Jurd (started in the morning session and completed at home).

What’s On for Borderline 2026-2027

It’s been a busy few years for Borderline but, especially with our Biennial exhibition at SRAG coming up in 2027, our Artists are staying busy in their studios!

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UPCOMING BORDERLINE EXHIBITIONS :

Glenn Innes Art Gallery  “Regeneration and Renewal” – August 6th to September 11th, 2026. Join us for the Gala Opening on the 8th of August from 3 pm.

Surat on Balonne Gallery “Regeneration” September 6th to October 19th

SRAG (Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery) : 25th June to 29th August, 2027 on the Mezzanine Level – This is our major biennale exhibition.

Texas Art Gallery 1st May to 20th June, 2027 (closing date to be confirmed)

ACS Tenterfield (Artists Collective Studio Gallery) dates still to be determined

And, for our 4th exhibition in 2027, we are in proposal stage with Roxy Gallery in Kyogle

So as 2026 comes to a close we will already be considering what our 2028 line-up might look like!

UPCOMING BORDERLINE WORKSHOPS :

Helle Jorgensen will be tutoring for us once again on Sat 21st and Sunday 22nd of November 2026 at the Wallangarra School of Arts Hall. More details available soon. 

And workshops for 2027 are still being investigated.

MEMBERS4MEMBERS SHORT WORKSHOPS :

Susan Heywood :  “Small Woven Vessels” August 1st at the railway Museum. See minutes to book. 

These are short workshops of a couple of hours duration, held on the first Saturday of alternate months. Stay posted for October details!

There are still a few workshop opportunities left for 2026 …

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BORDERLINE WORKSHOPS

with many thanks to the grant from Create NSW …

Liz Powell will be teaching Medieval Book Binding on the July 12th, 2026 at the Tenterfield Railway Barracks. See minutes to book.

Helle Jorgensen will be tutoring for us once again on Sat 21st and Sunday 22nd of November 2026 at the Wallangarra School of Arts Hall. More details available soon. 

And! (Drumroll!) Introducing our new home grown Workshop Series “Members4members” .

Each workshop is 2 hours long with a limit of 5 people and a cost of $20. Members please see the latest minutes to book directly with the tutor!

Sue Jurd – Saturday June 6th : Gel Plate Printing  
Susan Heywood – Saturday August 1st : Small Wrapped Baskets

Images from Gunnedah Gallery

Gunnedah Gallery was a beautiful backdrop for Borderlines recent exhibition “REGENERATION REIMAGINE RENEW” – here are a few shots from opening night….

2026 Workshop Series

After a huge 2025 Workshop Series (thanks to a grant from Create NSW) and the REGENERATION REIMAGINE RENEW Exhibition Series (currently at Gunnedah) continuing through to the end of the year, we are taking a rest from a larger workshop series while still focusing on our professional development.

We will be running a series of short ‘For Members By Members’ workshops including printing, clay and stitching at this stage (stay tuned!) as well as another weekend workshop in November with Helle Jorgensen (details to be announced.) We are off this weekend for our Art Camp at Tumbledown – always a hive of creativity and fun.

Members always have first dibs so to keep in touch join us, only $35 a year, (click here for the form) then watch out for details of what’s on each month in our shared minutes or join in the fun at our meetings.

Images from our 2025 Workshop series….

… much fun was had by all! Look out for members finished works in our Exhibition series REGENERATION REIMAGINE RENEW in 2026 …

The Presidents Report

Borderline Regional Arts Annual General Meeting September 2025

At the end of another busy year, I’d like to say many thanks to all those members who pitch in to make stuff happen.

September 2024 kicked off with members’ strong representation in the Stanthorpe Art Prize. Congratulations to those who made it through to become finalists. Hot on the heels of that Borderline’s exhibition at Rosalie Gallery “Where I Find Peace” finished. Thanks again to Susan Heywood for coordinating and Sue Jurd and others who helped with transporting works.

In October we had our second Artists Retreat at Tumbledown. Visitor numbers were up from our first visit and 8 people enjoyed the chance to stay over. Our Christmas Picnic Meeting for 2024 was at Storm King Dam with lovely weather, lots of food and friends and the meeting was brief. 

Borderline’s exhibition calendar continued in 2025. In May at Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery we had “Flat Out like a Lizard Drinking”. The number and range of works was amazing. Gallery staff and visitors commented on the high standard. A selection of work from this exhibition then went to Texas Regional Art Gallery. Thanks to Norm Clayton and Jane Henry for helping pack up at SRAG, Jane for transporting the works to Texas and coordinating the exhibition there. Thanks also to Jenni Gill and Sue Jurd for returning works and spreadsheeting. It was great to see many Borderliners at the opening and later Instagram feedback included positive comments from the galleries at Goondiwindi, Warwick and Gunnedah, as well as from visitors to the gallery. Next, our exhibition in August at Artworks Gallery in Stanthorpe “Prints on the Border” which also gives Borderline a place in the Granite Belt Art Trail. Thanks to Sue Jurd for organising that.

Borderline members then really went to town with unrestricted size and work numbers in our exhibition at Ceramic Break Sculpture Park at Warialda, ”Larger Than Life” which opened 7^th September. Thanks to Sue and Bob Jurd for loading up their caravan to take the work out and Linda and Geoff Nye who will be bringing it back in another caravan. Our exhibition planning for next year, with grant assistance. takes us from Gunnedah to Surat via Glen Innes.

Our first grant application was to Creative Australia and was unsuccessful, we had another chance with Create NSW. Thanks go to Denise N.Rall who helped get the submission into a new format, backed by Sue Jurd with budgeting. Our new application, Regenerating Art Communities, was approved at the beginning of 2025. Part of the reason for its success was its emphasis on Cultural Access (a listed Priority Area for Funding) and its reach across the region from Liston to Deepwater with 4 workshops. These have been well attended so far with one more to go. Feedback has been very positive, and new members have joined up. The tutors have been impressed by Borderline’s culture of inclusiveness, and our drive to expand members’ experiences. 

Thanks also need to go to members of the executive and committee who have kept up with the   legislative changes for small associations – moving into a new era of bookkeeping and accounting – treasurer Sheryl Wright, which has also impacted the minutes secretary -Denise N.Rall .Also for jumping in whenever needed thanks to Vice President Sue Jurd, for maintaining the Borderline website, Gay Landeta, and for coordinating the Art Market Elisabeth Muller. Thanks to Jayne Barrett who now retires from being our email secretary for many years.

For Borderline to continue to be successful as a network and support for artists we need as many hands-on as can be mustered, so thanks again to all those who have put their hands up over the past year.

Liz Powell       11/09/2025