The Buckets after Gloucester Buckets by Stuart Boggs is one of two recent acquisitions. The success of Packsaddle 2023 enabled us to acquire two new works for the NERAM collection. As part of marking the 40-year anniversary of NERAM, Inspiration and Iterations was an exhibition of 40 works from the collections, and 40 contemporary works created by invited artists responding to those works.

“Art is all around you, you have to acknowledge it. It's in the landscape. It's in the garden. It's in just one flower. It's all art.” Words of wisdom from Patricia Elkin, awarded an Order of Australia Medal for service to the arts in the New England region.

In 2015 NERAM launched the Adopt an Artwork program, which invites members of the community to sponsor the conservation of works from the Collections.

Looking Northwards by Isabelle Devos is one of two recent acquisitions. The success of Packsaddle 2023 enabled us to acquire two new works for the NERAM collection. As part of marking the 40-year anniversary of NERAM, Inspiration and Iterations was an exhibition of 40 works from the collections, and 40 contemporary works created by invited artists responding to those works.

Packsaddle 2024 showcased the works of many new artists, works from artists who exhibit with us regularly, and works from several new galleries. The 2024 exhibition coincided with the New England Garden Festival (NEGF). Visitors to both the NEGF and Packsaddle had a weekend of art and gardens, with good food at 6 Counties, (NERAM cafe). It was a perfect alignment.

One of the most rewarding aspects of Packsaddle is seeing the results of our hard work.  By early 2025 we had adopted 26 works in need of conservation work.  Most paintings are sent to Sydney for specialist conservation while the works on paper are conserved in Armidale by Jen Taylor, NERAM’s paper conservator. 

A wonderful 2023 show with 50% of works sold for near-record outcome!

Recently the Packsaddlers were delighted to view two of the newly conserved artworks they have sponsored.  These paintings are part of Packsaddle’s ongoing commitment to the Adopt an Artwork program which funds conservation of critical works at NERAM. 

NERAM Director, Rachel Parsons, and artist Rowan Matthews discuss the 2021 Celebrating Packsaddle exhibition.

“Barry Pearce, Emeritus Professor at the Art Gallery of NSW and a good friend of Packsaddle, advised us many years ago that Grace Cossington Smith, a significant female artist, was not represented in the collections at NERAM,” said Moira Lloyd, Packsaddle Co-chair. “He thought it an oversight so ever since then we have been on a quest to find a suitable work to donate. This beautiful work is the result of that quest assisted by Philip Bacon who took on the search on our behalf.”

This year, due to COVID challenges our Packsaddlers will be hosting a special exhibition featuring works that they have acquired over the 36 years the exhibition has run. This will be a unique opportunity to explore works from Australian artists far and wide, and a taste of how contemporary art has evolved in Australia.

To mark the occasion we have received tributes from two of our greatest supporters, Barry Pearce and Philip Bacon.

The majority of the works came from the Packsaddle exhibitions or were purchased by agreement with the Director. “At the end of an exhibition Beverley would say: ’it’s such a shame to let this go back... we’ll give it to the Collection.” These days we adhere to NERAM’s strict acquisition policy.

Over its 35 years Packsaddle has made significant contributions to the NERAM.

We are proud that the initiative to buy the Yellow Room came from Packsaddle.

“Over the years, we have donated many artworks to NERAM. This is the first time we have invested so much money in one artwork, but we believe that in time, Angus Nivison’s ‘Glimpse’ will become the jewel in the crown of the NERAM collection” Pat Elkin.