The new arts display is located in a heritage shop front on Braidwood’s main street. Photo: Supplied.
Cecile Galiazzo has seen a lot of changes to Braidwood’s arts scene since she purchased the prominent gallery, Studio Altenburg in 2018.
The culmination of these changes has left Braidwood’s once thriving arts community without a single gallery in town.
With 45 years of history, Studio Altenburg had become an arts institution in the town, one that was sadly closed in 2023 when Cecile says their lease wasn’t renewed.
After a year off travelling the Northern Territory, Cecile is now making a return to art with a window display of local artists that she will facilitate on Braidwood’s main street.
“When I came back to town after travelling, I thought that there’s such a need here for exhibiting local artists to still have somewhere to show their work in town. A lot of them are showing nationally and internationally, but it’s important for Braidwood for them to still have a presence here,” Cecile tells Region.
Simply referred to as The Shop Front, the new arts display is located at 139 Wallace Street in a building originally owned by the prominent local merchants, the Nomchong family, who Cecile says ran it as a grocery and haberdashery.
“This space has a beautiful shop front, and it was a great opportunity to take advantage of the windows as a display.”
With 45 years of history, Braidwood’s Studio Altenburg sadly closed in 2023. Photo: Supplied.
While window shopping is certainly on the cards for many residents and passersby, Cecile intends for all of the art on display to be available for purchase and has the gallery details available alongside the art.
The current display features local textiles artist Mary-Lou Nugent until late November, and Cecile shares that Mary was chosen to tie in with the annual Braidwood airing of the quilts event. This will be followed up by ceramic artist Gwenna Green.
Cecile doesn’t have to look far to find artists to feature in the new shop front and is leveraging her contacts in the community.
“There are so many practising and professional artists in Braidwood, and it’s an opportunity for them to show that they are still here and still live in Braidwood and identify as Braidwood artists,” Cecile says.
What led to the closure of all of the town’s galleries, Cecile says, is a combination of factors.
“I think there is a whole new generation who are just buying online and at art fairs,” shares Cecile.
“Rents are also a really big issue; the rents on the main street have gone up exponentially. It’s not just Braidwood; it’s happening in small towns across Australia. Two prominent galleries just closed down in Bungendore as well.”
Cecile Galiazzo and Studio Altenburg’s founding owner, Kirsty Altenburg. Photo: Supplied.
With the closure of the galleries, Cecile feels that the whole flavour of the town is changing, which is one of the reasons that The Shop Front is so important to her and the town.
“Braidwood is now a cafe town; you wouldn’t come to town now and think this is an arts town like you once did. We’re really now catering to the passing trade,” Cecile laments.
“That’s why I think keeping an arts presence like we are at The Shop Front in a very big window, is a really big statement.”
Given the right space and circumstances, Cecile is open to the idea of opening another fully fledged gallery in Braidwood in the future, but for now, she’s excited to exhibit in The Shop Front and hopes the town enjoys the art on display, and considers investing in local art by the many talented artists in the region.
The Shop Front is located at 139 Wallace Street; all art is available to purchase via the contact details in the window.
