About Us - our history and team
The site for Gosford Regional Gallery and Edogawa Commemorative Garden was set aside as community land in the 1990's. Part of this site was the East Gosford Sewerage works. Following the signing of the Sister City agreement with Japan's Edogawa in 1988, plans were developed to create the Edogawa Commemorative Garden.
Construction of the Garden commenced in 1993 and it was opened in 1994 alongside the Gosford City Arts Centre. Gosford Regional Gallery opened in April 2000, with over 6000 people attending the opening weekend.
Since 2000 the Gallery has held over 450 exhibitions representing local artists, artists from across Australia and has held several significant international exhibitions.
Today both the gallery and garden are a major tourist destination and a source of inspiration and pride for the Central Coast Community.
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Tim Braham
Director, Gosford Regional GalleryTim.Braham@centralcoast.nsw.gov.auDirector, Gosford Regional GalleryTim Braham
Tim Braham has worked at Gosford Regional Gallery since its inception in 2000. Initially employed as the Gallery curator He was responsible for delivering over 350 exhibitions. During this time, he has expanded community engagement within the Gallery, embedding it as the leading Arts Culture and Tourism asset on the Central Coast. As strategic lead of the gallery and Edogawa Garden, he facilitates community consultation that underpins the program and the Gallery’s overall strategy for providing supported access and engaging with marginalised groups, ensuring the Gallery remains a thriving and welcoming cultural facility.
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Kieran Lowrie
Reception OfficerKieran.Lowrie@centralcoast.nsw.gov.auReception OfficerKieran Lowrie
Kieran assists visitor enquiries and oversees visitor movements within the gallery. She supports volunteers in their roles and is responsible for enrolling students in art classes as well as providing administrative support to the Gallery Team.
Kieran’s qualifications lie in Visual Arts and Education with an Honours Degree in Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts from the University of NSW as well as a Diploma of Education from University of Western Sydney. She has 24 years’ experience as a Visual Arts teacher in Australia and Scotland. Kieran is also a practicing visual artist and has exhibited works in Australia and the UK. -
Jo O'Toole
CuratorJoanna.Otoole@centralcoast.nsw.gov.auCuratorJo O'Toole
"It’s a great honour to work with such a diverse range of artists from across Australia. I am committed to helping artists celebrate their work in our various exhibition spaces”.
Jo O'Toole is an accomplished curator and established artist with over 27 years’ experience in the Australian visual arts sector.
With a deep passion for contemporary Australian art, Jo has curated numerous exhibitions, developed engaging public programs, and coordinated inspiring educational initiatives. She is dedicated to fostering artistic expression and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Throughout her extensive career, Jo has cultivated a strong connection between galleries and their audiences. She has worked across a range of roles, including at Sydney College of the Arts, in primary and high schools in the Hunter Region, and Newcastle Art School as a Gallery Assistant and Arts Administrator.
Jo's experience also extends to the Museum of Arts and Culture Yapang at Lake Macquarie City Council, where she served in multiple roles including Education and Public Programs Officer, Co-Curator, Art Educator and Exhibition Installer.
Since joining Gosford Regional Gallery in January 2023, Jo has been the Education and Public Programs Officer, Acting Curator and Acting Director before transitioning into her current full-time position.
Jo holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Design, majoring in painting and printmaking from RMIT University in Melbourne, with post-graduate studies in printmaking from Sydney College of the Arts. She also earned an Advanced Diploma of Fine Arts with a major in sculpture from Newcastle Art School, Hunter TAFE, and is nearing completion of a Master of Teaching in Education from The University of Newcastle.
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Jim Lawson
Section Manager, Arts & CultureJim.Lawson@centralcoast.nsw.gov.auSection Manager, Arts & CultureJim Lawson
Jim Lawson provides overall strategic direction for Arts & Culture within Central Coast Council and moved to the Central Coast seeking a Creative Life Connected to Nature.
He is dedicated to a thriving, contemporary, Arts & Culture ecology unique to the Central Coast that speaks to place and people – on a local, state-wide and national level.
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Karen Randall
Reception OfficerGallery@centralcoast.nsw.gov.auReception OfficerKaren Randall
Karen has been at Gosford Regional Gallery since 2013. As reception officer she works out front overseeing all visitor movements. Karen is often first in line to respond to any visitor enquiries, She supports and trains new volunteers, and is responsible for enrolling students in art classes and taking bookings for venue hire.
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Sally Smith
Support OfficerSally.smith@centralcoast.nsw.gov.auSupport OfficerSally Smith
Sally, who has worked at Gosford Regional Gallery since 2018, has a professional background in cultural heritage management with degrees in anthropology and a post-graduate diploma in museum science. She assists with research and the collation of data, facilitates artist and supplier payments, supports curatorial staff in the delivery of exhibitions, and works front of house on weekends. She also manages the sale of books in the Gallery gift shop and, as the author of two books, has a strong interest in artistic expression through writing. -
Helena Walsh
Retail and Visitor Experience OfficerHelena.walsh@centralcoast.nsw.gov.auRetail and Visitor Experience OfficerHelena Walsh
Helena’s role includes managing the gallery’s gift shop and local suppliers, coordinating art classes and the school holiday workshop program, venue hire and excursions.
Helena’s qualifications lie in information management with a Bachelor Degree of Information Management through Curtin University, specialising in Libraries, Archives and Record-keeping. She has a background working in the GLAM sector for over 10 years. -
Kay O Carroll
Reception OfficerReception OfficerKay O Carroll
Kay joined the gallery team in 2020 as a gallery reception officer. Kay has a strong customer service background and is passionate about helping create positive and memorial experiences to all who visit the gallery and the Edogowa Commemorative Garden. Her role includes answering visitor queries, enrolling students into our wide range of art classes, gallery memberships, assisting with wedding setups, venue hire, openings and supporting our fantastic team of volunteers in both the shop and at the welcome desk.