A new signature exhibition has opened at City of Coffs Harbour’s Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM), inviting viewers on a collective journey to explore the changing identity of Coffs Harbour.
Halfway, which is free to the public, explores how distance, time, speed, and space shape people’s perceptions of a place, and how an identity associated with being the ‘halfway point on the highway’ evolves over time.
The exhibition has been made possible with a generous grant from the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation, through the Museums & Galleries of NSW, which offers funding to two NSW regional and public galleries per annum.
The program targets the development and delivery of curated exhibitions that significantly support artists, extend public appreciation and engagement with the visual arts, and expand curatorial skills and creativity beyond metropolitan Sydney.
“The Dobell Exhibition Grant is highly competitive, aimed at supporting high quality exhibitions that speak to broad audiences. It is a wonderful reflection on the City that we have been able to secure the grant to assist in creating such a vibrant, diverse, and exciting exhibition,” City of Coffs Harbour’s Mayor, Cr Paul Amos, said.
“We hope people will find the exhibition fun and celebratory, but also thought-provoking. Complementing the exhibition is an extensive public program which includes artist talks, a family day and a live theatre show with Tim Ross and Kit Warhurst. There really is something for everyone.”
“This exhibition speaks to local identity, road trips, the open road, the beauty of our region, and nostalgia about holidays in Coffs Harbour,” Director City Planning and Communities, Chris Chapman said.
“It includes local and national artist commissions, contemporary art loans from major institutions, and social history items from the YAM collection, fulfilling the vision for YAM as a combined museum and gallery.”
The exhibition is open until Sunday 11 February 2024.
Find out about the exhibition and about programs and events linked to it at
This exhibition is supported by the Dobell Exhibition Grant, funded by the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation and managed by Museums & Galleries of NSW.
Other Exhibitions on at YAM this Summer
The 2023 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Now – Sunday Feb 11, 2024
Celebrate the natural heritage of Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea with Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2023. A South Australian Museum exhibition.
Never Neverland
Thursday Dec 14, 2023 – Sunday Feb 4, 2024
Never Neverland presents works by Karlee Rawkins in collaboration with her son Raj, exploring the perceptions, expectations and profound joy that being the mother of a son with a disability has brought.
Image caption: Peter Wade, Mood Banana 3, 2023. Plaster, acrylic, ink, part of Mood Banana series. Photo by City of Coffs Harbour.
