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A message from Gillian Grove – Event Director 2019-2023
In 2019 I stepped in to take over the d’Arcy Doyle Art Awards from the amazing Earle Hinschen.
At that stage all I knew was that Earle needed help if we were to keep our beloved exhibition going. I gathered the most extraordinary team and we got to work managing our biggest obstacle – growth.
We’ve come a long way since then. New branding, an online gallery and online entry forms. We handed out more than $70K to artists this year in prize money and art sales payments. This is an incredible contribution to our art community and to those artists who we know can use every cent possible.
Each year, we watch the Mudgeeraba community come alive for 10 days of The Doyles. This isn’t done in isolation. More than 70 volunteers pull off this event each year. These dedicated individuals are the heart of the exhibition.
No decision has been made in isolation. Our committee of 10 drive all decisions with the goal to keep pushing to keep our exhibition moving forward. They are an inspiration and a credit to our community.
Now that we have stablised growth, we have turned our attention to getting more art sales for everyone. We have gathered an amazing buyers community that grow each year and there are plans in place to sell more art online in 2024.
The Doyles is firmly stamped on the creative calendar and well on its way to becoming a premier art award.
It is in this strong position with all the systems set up for the future that I bow out of the leaders position and mentor in the next Event Director, Samantha Sinner.
Sam has been an integral part of the Doyles growth and has stood by my side since day one, putting in place systems and helping guide important decisions. Our award is in good hands.
I remain on our committee and will still be very much a part of our community. My own company Artable will take a more active role in The Doyles in future years and of course I will be supporting Sam in her new role.
I want to thank each and every one of you for your incredible support and enthusiasm. I am very proud of our community and what The Doyles has achieved.
I’m looking forward to seeing you all at next year’s event and I know that you will extend the same incredibly warm welcome to Sam as you did to me.
Stay creative everyone,
Gillian
