The Bald Archy Prize is back at Brewarrina and the public are excited!

It's time to dust off the party attire, pour a glass of chilled chardonnay and head to Bre, where the Bald Archy art exhibition is on display at the Visitor Information and Exhibition Centre until June 26.

Considered Australia’s premier satirical art prize (even if slightly less famous than the Archibald Prize!), the Bald Archy Prize celebrates the lighter side of art and the larrikin Australian spirit.

Opened last Friday night at its only Western Plains venue, enthusiasts were thrilled to see this year's 22 satirical portraits in the $10,000 Bald Archy Prize exhibition tour after a couple of years of cancellation due to Covid.

A spokesperson from the Exhibition Centre said around 30 people attended the opening and there has been plenty of interest in the exhibition with Council promoting through local radio and other media

Brewarrina Shire Council hosted the opening event with live music, food, and wine and a close up look at some of the best satirical and political portraits in the country.

Brewarrina Shire Mayor Vivian Slack-Smith said it was a coup for Brewarrina to host the month-long exhibition once again, and this year there was even more excitement around the event due to the last couple of years when it was a no-show.

The famous and infamous personalities were plentiful among the 22 finalists, but in the end, Albo, Scomo, Dutton, George Pell, Gina Rinehart, Ash Barty, Costa and even King Charles failed to take the crown in this year’s hard-fought competition.

The winner, instead, went to a portrait by Marty Steel of the founder of the Bald Archy Prize, Peter Batey who passed away in 2019.

Peter Batey OAM was a distinguished arts administrator and pioneer of contemporary Australian theatre. After a long and successful career, Peter relocated to Coolac, a small town near Gundagai, where he contributed significantly to the regional community and created the Festival of Fun, of which the Bald Archy Prize was a key part.

Throughout his career in theatre, Peter produced and directed some 130 professional productions across Australia and the world. He is known for directing all five major Reg Livermore stage shows, revolutionising Australian commercial theatre in the mid-70’s. Batey has also been publicly acknowledged by Barry Humphries for his contribution to the creation of the character Dame Edna Everage.

His love of humour led to his creation of the Bald Archy Prize in 1994.

His reason? “It was meant to amuse – apparently a problem with people who believe audible laughter shouldn’t be permitted in an art gallery, let alone unsolicited conversation with a complete stranger."

The satirical works will be on display until the 26th June at the exhibition centre from Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Sat/ Sun 10am to 2pm.

After its time in Brewarrina, the exhibition travels to Grenfell, Deniliquin, Corowa, Newcastle, Temora before finishing in Wagga Wagga in January next year.