Ever wondered where Redcliffe’s artistic heart beats? The Redcliffe Art Society is a vibrant hub for creativity and community. Established in 1961, the Redcliffe Art Society has a rich history of fostering artistic expression. It all began in 1957 with the ‘Clontarf Beach Art Contest’ held in the Ace of Club’s Arcade. This arcade served as the society’s headquarters for several years.
The winning painting of that first contest was Betty Quelhurst’s ‘The Pier, Woody Point’. Quelhurst later donated nine paintings to the Redcliffe Art Collection. The contest evolved over the years. In 1958, it became ‘The Woody Point Art Contest’. By 1959, it was named ‘The Redcliffe Centenary Art Contest’. This celebrated Redcliffe’s naming as a city.
In December 1960, the first meeting of the Redcliffe Art Society took place. Officially, the society was constituted in 1961 as the ‘Redcliffe Art Contest Society’. From the start, a monthly newsletter was produced and continues to this day. The Redcliffe Art Society became ‘Redcliffe Art Society Incorporated’ in 1981. They moved to a church building in Margate in 1983. In 1986, they relocated to the Redcliffe Leagues Club Building.
Until 1996, the Redcliffe Art Society ran an annual ‘Spring Exhibition’. The Redcliffe City Council acquired the winning entries and formed the Redcliffe Art Collection. After the amalgamation of Councils, these paintings became part of the Moreton Bay Regional Council’s collection.
In 1999, a committee formed by the Redcliffe Art Society petitioned the Council. This led to the building of the Redcliffe Regional Gallery. In 2010, the society organized its inaugural national Open Art Contest ‘RASGO’. The Redcliffe Art Society and the Golden Ox Restaurant sponsored it.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the ‘First Fifty’ art exhibition was held in 2011. It took place in the Redcliffe Cultural Centre. In 2015, the Redcliffe Art Society found a new home. The refurbished Old Redcliffe Fire Station became the Old Fire Station Community Arts and Volunteer Hub. The Redcliffe Art Society shares this space with the Redcliffe Potters’ Group and the MBRC Volunteers Hub. The Moreton Bay Regional Council invested $2 million to transform the old fire station.
Today, the Redcliffe Art Society thrives. Over 400 members participate in the Redcliffe Art Society. Many attend the 17 art classes each week. The Redcliffe Art Society also hosts regular workshops. The society encourages everyone to explore their artistic side.
The Old Fire Station Community Arts and Volunteer Hub hosts monthly exhibitions. Its gallery shop is open Wednesday to Sunday. It sells art created in Brisbane and the Moreton Bay Region. It is run entirely by volunteers. The Redcliffe Art Society aims to cultivate and promote fine arts. It also strives to promote cultural development. Whether you are an artist or simply appreciate art, the Redcliffe Art Society welcomes you. It offers a space to learn, create, and connect with others.