About Us
Exhibiting Art For 44 Years
Brisbane Rotary Art Show, one of Queensland’s largest art awards is on again in 2026. Showcased in its home at Central Plaza One, it again continues with the same values and community focus that you know and trust.
The Brisbane Rotary Art Show is all about celebrating creativity, supporting community-driven initiatives, and fostering engagement with the arts:
- Enriches audiences by connecting art with purpose, offering a chance to engage with the artistic process and support local and global community projects through the Rotary movement. The award has raised over $2.5 million for Brisbane Rotary community projects and local charity partners.
- Encourages artistic excellence and creates opportunities for Australian artists, showcasing both prominent and emerging talent. The show highlights diverse artistic voices while promoting community connection through Queensland’s largest art award.
- Supports artists at every stage of their careers, offering public recognition and an impactful platform to exhibit their work, with all exhibition pieces available for sale.
Funds raised from the show go directly to the Charity Partners and organising Rotary Clubs, enabling vital work in youth programs, disaster relief, mental health initiatives, and more. The Brisbane Rotary Art Show not only celebrates art but also transforms lives through the power of community.
Beneficiaries
This year the profits generated by the Brisbane Rotary Art Show will be distributed equally between:
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Youngcare is celebrating its 21st year of ensuring that young Australians with high physical support needs can live with dignity, independence and real choice. Their work includes accessible housing projects, vital equipment grants and national advocacy.
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Coffee Brigade’s mission is to provide nutrition and connection every day of the year for anyone in need.
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Our Team
Judge: Dr Bill Platz
Senior Lecturer, Queensland College of Art and Design
A renowned artist, researcher, and educator with international exhibition experience, Dr Platz brings deep expertise in drawing, portraiture, and artistic innovation. Currently Head of Drawing at QCA, he has been a pivotal figure in art education since 2009.
Key Judge: Julie Fragar
Deputy Director (Research) - Queensland College of Art and Design
Julie Fragar is the Deputy Director (Research) at the Queensland College of Art and an acclaimed Australian painter whose work is held in major public collections including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Art Gallery of South Australia and QAGOMA. Winner of the 2025 Archibald Prize, Fragar has exhibited widely in leading national exhibitions. Her award‑winning practice and longstanding institutional recognition position her as a highly respected and authoritative judge for the 2026 Brisbane Rotary Art Show.
Photo credit: James Caswell
Key Judge: Christine Clarke
Director, Curatorial and Collections - Museum of Brisbane
Christine has worked in curatorial and management roles at various institutions, including National Portrait Gallery, Australian National University and Queensland Art Gallery before her current position at Museum of Brisbane.
While at the National Portrait Gallery she was part of the collaborative team that implemented the National Photographic Portrait Prize, Digital Portrait Award and the Darling Portrait Prize. Christine has curated numerous projects emphasising cross-cultural intersections and retelling national and shared histories, including several exhibitions that have toured nationally.
Key Judge: Keith Burt
Artist
Keith Burt is an award‑winning Brisbane painter and sculptor with an extensive record of recognition in Australia’s leading art prizes. He is a five‑time Archibald Prize finalist, a Wynne Prize finalist, a Darling Portrait Prize finalist, and winner of the 2020 Brisbane Portrait Prize.
Keith exhibits with Jan Murphy Gallery and his work is held in both public and private collections throughout Australia. With a practice spanning portraiture, landscape and still life, he brings deep expertise and a highly respected artistic reputation to his role as a judge.
Finalist Selection Judge: Claire Sourgnes
Director Ipswich Art Gallery
Claire has over 25 years’ experience working in commercial, government and artist-run galleries in Australia and Germany across a range of positions. She has held roles as the inaugural Network Coordinator of Art Galleries for the City of Moreton Bay and CEO of artisan. Since 2023, Claire has been the Director of Ipswich Art Gallery, leading the gallery’s team to deliver diverse, quality, innovative programs which exemplify the transformative power visual art, craft and design have in our communities. She also overseas Public Art for the City of Ipswich.
She is actively engaged in advocacy for the arts sector in Queensland and nationally, and currently sits on the Boards of Public Galleries Queensland, Ipswich Arts Foundation and the Brisbane Portrait Prize.
Curator and Finalist Judge: Simone Linssen
Curator
Simone is a Brisbane-based curator and arts leader with over a decade of experience delivering exhibitions and cultural programs across Queensland.
Her career includes senior roles in both commercial and public galleries, including Lethbridge Gallery and Artisan, where she shaped creative strategy, operations, and exhibition programs. She currently curates the Brisbane Portrait Prize and the Ipswich Art Awards, and is deeply connected to the arts community, with a strong focus on creating platforms that elevate artists’ careers and facilitates meaningful connections between artists and audiences. With a background in fine art and business, Simone brings a distinctive blend of creative insight and organisational expertise to the exhibitions she leads.
Finalist Judge: Demi Conrad
Demi Conrad is the Manager of Onespace Gallery in Brisbane, where she has established herself as a voice in contemporary Australian art curation. With a Bachelor of Creative Industries from Queensland University of Technology and ongoing postgraduate studies in Art History at the University of Queensland, she brings scholarly expertise to her curatorial practice. Demi specialises in showcasing Queensland’s most significant artistic talents, and managing projects that support artists across Australia. Her approach combines art historical analysis with accessible presentation, making her an influential figure in Brisbane’s vibrant arts community.
Chair: Murray Bell
A respected leader in development planning, Murray brings strategic insights and a commitment to supporting creative and commercial ventures in South-East Queensland. Murray’s expertise ensured the Brisbane Rotary Art Show remained a premier platform for excellence, drawing in a wide audience for 2025.
Committee:
Chair: Murray Bell
Secretary: Lyn Maddock
Treasurer: Steve Knight
Operations: David Frost
IT/Admin: Steve Knight
Curator: Simone Linssen
Coordinator: Kym McCluskey
Sponsorship: Dani Conn
Fundraising: Jane Andersen
General: Bill Phillips