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Big showing for opening night. Photo credit: Zach Houtenville.
The Whitsundays' thriving arts community was celebrated last Friday night as the 2026 Great Barrier Reef Festival Art Exhibition officially opened, showcasing the work of 66 artists and recognising the year's standout creatives.
In its third year, the Great Barrier Reef Festival Art Exhibition showcased 85 finalist works from 66 artists through painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media.
“The Great Barrier Reef Festival isn't just about the fireworks, it's not just about the rides,” said Mayor Ry Collins in a speech opening up the event.
“The music, the entertainment, it's actually about creativity, culture, and the incredible natural environment that inspires us every day here in the Whitsundays.”
"Creating art takes talent, dedication, and a willingness to put a piece of yourself on display, to put your heart into something, and that really is worth celebrating."
Responding to this year's theme, Beyond Beauty, artists looked beneath the surface, exploring personal stories, environmental issues and the hidden beauty of the Great Barrier Reef through a range of creative interpretations.
Selecting the finalist was this year's curated panel of acclaimed artist and educator Glenda Vickers, Whitsundays Regional Councillor Jan Clifford OAM and Visual Arts Teacher at St Catherine's Catholic College Caz Hanks.
Once the finalist had been selected, artist, educator and researcher based out of Mackay, Glenda Hobdell assessed the finalist to decide who would be taking home the final prizes.
Michelle Brayshaw claimed the exhibition's highest honour, taking out the Whitsunday Regional Council Best in Show Award for her piece Beauty is Skin Deep. The $3,000 prize will see the artwork added to the Whitsunday Regional Council Art Collection.
Other major winners included Lyn Laver-Ahmat, whose Retreating Tide 2 received the 2D Award, Stacey Nicholas for her Reef Ballet in the 3D category, and Andrea Fabian, whose photograph The Homemaker won the Photography Award.
Local and emerging artists were given a spotlight throughout the evening, with Lola Hornstra collecting the inaugural Next Generation Artist Award for Everything Has Changed, consisting of artists aged between 16 and 18, while Trudy Hastings won the Local Artist Award with her piece Tidal Form #1.
Katherine Murray's Where Beauty Deepens was awarded the Reef Theme Award for best interpreting this year's Beyond Beauty theme, and the TARTS Textile Artists were recognised with the Community Creativity Award for their collaborative work Tarts Tree.
Beyond the award winners, the exhibition also features three collaborative community works by Eco Barge Clean Seas, the TARTS Textile Artists and the Whitsunday Conservation Council, each exploring environmental themes connected to the Great Barrier Reef.
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