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The Portland Art Society Inc. hold an art
exhibition every year the first weekend in March and have
done so since 1976. In 2006 the 31st exhibition was held
and an outstanding number of paintings were sold. The
exhibition, which is highly rated in NSW allows a great
diversification of artists to present and show their work.
A voluntary committee of approximately
10 people organise the exhibition which attracts
enormous crowds to our
small village. Every year we have record sales
and attendance and are possibly the 3rd top selling
exhibition in the State attracting artists from all
over New South Wales.
The Society has donated two-thirds of the
exhibition's profit back into the community for the past
29 years. Due to outstanding sales in recent years, large
donations have gone to worthwhile charities, 6 local schools,
aged care hostels, Ronald MacDonald House, Children's
Far West, SES, VRA, local pool, Bush Fire Brigade, Careflight,
Childflight, The Crystal Theatre Restoration Fund and
Daffodil House (Cancer support).
In 2006 the committee invested in
new frames in order to hang more paintings than ever,
but still managed to give away $6,500 to a number
of local charities.
The Art Society has been fortunate
to receive many awards:
- The Lithgow City Council's community Event of
the Year,
- Finalist in The Lithgow Business Awards,
- Lithgow Tourism Awards,
- Century of Federation Award,
- Arts Council Award for Outstanding Contributions
to the Community,
- Australia Day Awards,
- The Delta Electricity Lithgow and District Art
Council Awards for Outstanding Promotion of the
Arts 2003 as well as the quarterly winner for this
same award, 2004.
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