Uralla’s art exhibition is one of the town’s social affairs

URALLA is ready for a week of arty celebrations with the town’s annual art exhibition opening tonight at the Memorial Hall on Salisbury St.

Each year the exhibition is the major fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Uralla and the whole town has thrown their support behind it.

Tonight there will be about 200 people helping to open the event, with guest speaker and artist Phillip Thornton from the Central Coast doing the official opening honours.

Art lovers will be sipping on local wines from Whyworry and Merilba wineries while dining on food prepared by the Uralla Central School hospitality class.

“The food is absolutely magic and the wine is wonderful,” exhibition chairman Peter Phillips said.

Three ladies will be playing classical string music to entertain the crowds.

There will also be lucky door prizes and raffles.

Mr Thornton has donated one of his artworks worth $500 for one of the raffles.

The Central Coast artist paints landscapes from the coast to the country and will feature in the exhibition.

This is the 36th annual exhibition to raise money for the town’s Rotary club, with money going towards supporting local schools.

“It started off in a small way at the Uralla Central School library in 1977,” Mr Phillips said.

“We usually raise about $8000 profit and it’s one of the major social events of the year. We have the support of the wonderful committee and this wonderful town of Uralla is a great little town. They get behind these sort of things and they support anything local.”

Mr Phillips said art lovers travelled up from the coast as well as from Sydney and Newcastle to enjoy the event.

Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start for tonight’s opening and everyone is welcome with tickets $20.

During the week, the exhibition is open from Saturday, to March 23 from 10am-4pm and on Sunday, March 24 from 10am-2pm.

Entry is $4 and under 12-year-olds are free.