Archibald boosts Geelong economy

A cool $6 million has been injected into the regions local economy thanks to Geelong Gallery’s Archibald Prize exhibition.

The City of Greater Geelong in conjunction with Geelong Major Events funding supported the exhibition which ran October 28 to December 10 and welcomed 58,000 people through the doors.

City of Greater Geelong mayor Bruce Harwood said Australia’s most coveted art award had been a fantastic opportunity to showcase the region, bringing more than 20,000 people to the gallery for the first time.

“There are numerous benefits in bringing contemporary exhibitions like the Archibald to Geelong with their positive impacts on economy, the opportunity to showcase our region and enable us to further showcase our cultural credentials.

“The benefits also extend to word of mouth and great stories and photos these visitors will share with family and friends about the Greater Geelong region, enticing more visitors in the future.”

Surrounding eateries Courthouse Cafe, James Street Bakery, Scout and Co., Coffee Cartel, The Sprout and Bean, and Frankie all experienced reported boosts in business stemming from the exhibition crowd.

Accompanying the exhibition was the Who’s Who Portrait Prize, which inspired 1,200 of Greater Geelong’s young artists to celebrate local identities, personal histories and achievements through art.

After the success of its inaugural Geelong debut, The Archibald Prize will again return to the gallery on September 22.