YARRILA ARTS AND MUSEUM

A: 23-31 Gordon St, Coffs Harbour NSW

P: +61 2 6648 4863

E: gallery@chcc.nsw.gov.au

Located on Gumbaynggirr Country along the mid-north coast of NSW, Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM) proudly opened its doors in September 2023.

YAM is at the heart of Yarrila Place, a new contemporary cultural hub, designed by Coffs’ own Matthew Blair of BVN Architecture and built around a 150-year-old Hill’s Weeping Fig (ficus hillii) in the Coffs Harbour CBD.

The name Yarrila, pronounced, YA-re-la, is a Gumbaynggirr word that means “illuminate / brighten / light up / illustrate”. This encapsulates YAM’s vision of illuminating knowledge, arts, heritage, and community creativity.

A testament to decades of dedication, YAM’s journey traces back to the opening of the first museum in 1980 and Council’s acquisition of its first artwork in 1974. This commitment has seen the collection grow to include more than 18,000 objects, artefacts and archives as well as more than 600 artworks.

YAM boasts five exhibition spaces. The centerpiece is Yaamanga Around here, a permanent exhibition that showcases the museum and gallery collections. The other four exhibition spaces come alive with dynamic rotating exhibitions, many of which proudly feature YAM’s own collections.

AWARDS

The STILL: National Still Life Award was established by the gallery in 2017. The biennial award has developed a strong profile, cementing Coffs Harbour’s place on the national arts map. The contemporary art prize is open to all mediums and artists at all stages of their careers, with the genre of still life offering fertile ground for the exploration of themes that pertain to our very existence. STILL: National Still Life Award is now a signature event in the cultural calendar of the region that attracts a wide- ranging audience from curious community members to avid art lovers.

FACILITIES

  • Cafe
  • Library
  • Gallery shop
  • Onsite parking
  • Wheelchair access
  • Workshops & classes

FEATURED STORIES AND EXHIBITIONS

Richilde Flavell: Ok! Motherhood

Yarrila Arts and Museum presents work by Richilde Flavell.

Sarah Mufford: Fluttering on the Surface

Yarrila Arts and Museum presents work by Sarah Mufford.