GRASSROOTS arts groups have hailed Booval Fair as a saviour for local artists, with the ArtsConnect Community Gallery located at the centre growing into a lively hub for creatives.
Booval Fair handed the arts sector a lifeline late last year when it provided ArtsConnect Ipswich with a shopfront to showcase and nurture local artists.
In just six months, it has hosted exhibitions by groups, schools and associations, sold more than 200 artworks, and drawn so many new members that ArtsConnect has had to stop taking applications and start a waiting list.
ArtsConnect Ipswich president Glen Smith said the gallery was born from necessity after changes to the Ipswich Community Gallery meant artists had to compete annually for space through a formal application process.
“The gallery played a major role in the journey for new and emerging artists in our region,” Mr Smith said.
“Now you have to apply in November for the following year, and if you miss it, you wait another year.”
Mr Smith said the shift meant local artists were being overlooked in favour of outsiders.
“The gallery is now seeking more established and professional artists, which means those who create for therapy, to have a voice, to educate about social issues, or simply for the joy of it, aren’t getting a look in,” he said.
“I myself, with many other local artists and groups, were declined for an exhibition this year – that’s why we started searching for alternative spaces.”
Finding one was difficult.
“With no help from the Ipswich City Council, the task seemed ominous,” Mr Smith said.
The breakthrough came when word of their search reached Booval Fair Marketing Manager Rachel Vickery.
“Booval Fair’s motto is ‘The Heart of the Community’ and this gallery space is a testament to that,” Mr Smith said.
But Economic and Cultural Development Committee Chairperson Councillor Pye Augustine rejected the idea that the Ipswich Community Gallery no longer prioritised locals.
“A minimum of 70 per cent of exhibition opportunities are reserved for local creatives,” she said.
“Fourteen artists or art groups were selected for 2025-2026 from more than 40 applications, and only two do not have a direct connection to the Ipswich region. “It’s fantastic to see Ipswich’s art sector grow with ArtsConnect’s new space in Booval.”
Since opening, the Booval gallery has welcomed the Ipswich Photography Group, T’arts, an Indigenous Men’s Group, and even hosted a book launch. Originally on a three-month lease, it now operates month to month.
For Mr Smith, the space is more than just four walls—it’s proof that grassroots arts can thrive when the doors are truly open.
