Gosford Regional Gallery will play host to two national exhibitions starting Saturday 10 December, furthering its commitment to attract significant touring exhibitions to the Central Coast.

Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds said it will be a busy summer period for the gallery.

“It’s wonderful to see two fantastic bodies of work on display right in our own backyard,” said Mr Reynolds.

“As one of the state’s leading regional galleries, Gosford Regional Gallery has proven time and again that it is an ideal venue to display work of this significance and calibre.

“I’d encourage everyone to take the opportunity over the holiday period to see these wonderful exhibitions and support the great work of the gallery.”

Behind the Lines presents the humour and nostalgia of 2016’s best political cartoons, while Bare: degrees of undress showcases portraits of some of Australia’s most recognisable faces.

Including 59 portraits, Bare investigates elements of nakedness with personalities including Germaine Greer, Ian Thorpe and Billy Slater.

Exhibition Curator from the National Portrait Gallery, Penelope Grist said the exhibition will be fun, whilst also interrogating our instinctive reactions to bareness.

“Bareness is not as extreme as nakedness and not as refined as nudity, it emphasises something about a subject’s identity as well as reflecting society,” Ms Grist said.

“The decision to uncover part, or all, of the body in a portrait is at least as significant as a choice of clothing. Visitors to Bare will see these portraits in a completely new way.”

Behind the Lines 2016: The year’s best political cartoons from the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House celebrates the role of political cartooning in Australia and highlights the power that drawings have in contributing to our daily political and social discourse.

The exhibition features a range of masters of cartoon art including 2016 Cartoonist of the Year, Cathy Wilcox,  Alan Moir, Chris ‘Roy’ Taylor, David Rowe and more from all our major news outlets.

With 83 works from 33 cartoonists on display, Behind the Lines 2016 showcases some of Australia’s most controversial cartoons that test the boundaries of free speech and the freedom of the press.

Director of the Museum of Australian Democracy, Ms Daryl Karp says that the work of political cartoonists is an inspiring reminder and celebration of Australian democracy.

“Political cartoonists get to push the boundaries and turn our leaders into caricatures that bring to life the questions that most of us should be asking of those that represent us,” said Ms Karp.

“In a landscape where information is distilled to 140 characters, viral photos and memes, our political cartoonists are well equipped to meet the needs of this change and ensure they remain an essential part of celebrating Australia’s democracy.”

Behind the Lines 2016 and Bare will be on display at Gosford Regional Gallery from Saturday 10 December 2016 until Sunday 29 January 2017.

Also opening on Saturday 10 December is a series of paintings by Central Coast landscape painter Cathryn McEwen, celebrating the mesmerising visual qualities of water.

Wavelength will be on display in the Foyer Gallery until Wednesday 11 January.

A special entry fee of $5 ($3 concessions/$10 family) will be charged for Bare and Behind the Lines. The entry fee covers admission into both exhibitions.

Gosford Regional Gallery is located at 36 Webb St, East Gosford.

For more information visit gosford.nsw.gov.au/galleries or contact 4304 7550.