Art Show History
History of the Camberwell Rotary Art Show
The first Art Show and Competition was held in 1966 at the Camberwell Grammar School having been preceded by two Antique and Art Shows.
The aim of the Art Show has always been to:
- Raise money for the charitable use of the Rotary Club
- Provide a venue for artists to display their works
- Provide a community artistic event
The 1966 Show featured 1042 artworks. One of the principal objectives was the acquisition of artworks as a basis for a collection for the City of Camberwell (now City of Boroondara) and its citizens.
By 1990, over 50 artworks had been donated to the City of Camberwell and Rotary International awarded its first district ‘Significant Achievement Award’ to the Rotary Club of Camberwell.
In 1969, the Show moved its location and featured in the official launch of the new Camberwell Town Hall. Free entry to the Art Show was sponsored by the City of Camberwell. The exhibition featured 1357 works.
By 1972, the Show boasted over 2,000 entries.
The Study Grant Prize was instituted in 1972. David Taylor, whose works are now well renowned, was the first winner.
The Art Show’s entries peaked at over 4,000 in 1983.
In 1993, Melbourne businessman, arts benefactor and philanthropist Harold Mitchell became Patron of the Camberwell Rotary Art Show.
Art Show judges have included Sir William Dargie, Paul Fitzgerald, Harold Freeman, Karlis Mednis, Herman Pekel, Robert Wade, David Taylor, Ern Trembath, Kath Ballard, Colin Johnson, Carole Milton, Gillian Peebles and two international judges, Ian Houston and Richard Stone.
A number of prize winning artists and judges have contributed raffle and door prizes to assist in fundraising.
In recent years, the Art Show has attracted up to 10,000 visitors annually.
In 1999 Australia’s highest selling newspaper, the Herald Sun, became the Camberwell Rotary Art Show’s major sponsor. This followed the demise of the Herald Sun Outdoor Art Show which was a feature of Melbourne’s Moomba celebrations.
The City of Boroondara (formerly City of Camberwell) has supported the Art Show since its inception.
The success of the Art Show can be attributed to many corporate sponsors, Club members plus a legion of friends who volunteer their time to ensure it remains a premier event on Melbourne’s art calendar. In excess of $2.1 million has been raised for local, national and international humanitarian and charitable projects.
Due to renovations at the Art Show’s traditional venue, the Camberwell Centre, the 2010 and 2011 Camberwell Rotary Art Shows moved to one of Melbourne’s best known exhibition venues, the Caulfield Racecourse. After the two successful shows in 2010 and 2011 the opportunity arose to take the Art Show back to its roots in Boroondara.
As a consequence of this opportunity the 2012 Camberwell Rotary Art Show will be held at the Hawthorn Town Hall which is being developed over a period to become the Hawthorn Town Hall Arts Precinct. This move enables the Art Show to have a longer opening period so enhancing the Show’s exhibition status.
With a new registration and preview process which will allow all paintings invited to be hung. This will reduce problems perceived in the past when all paintings were not hung A new process that will it is hoped provide better relationships with the Artists and Patrons as well as continuing the premium status of the Camberwell Rotary Art Show.