All 51 finalists of the 2016 Archibald Prize adorn the walls of the regional gallery, including  the $100,000 winner, Barry by Louise Hearman (keep an eye out for the glittering diamante embedded into the portrait of Barry Humphries!)

In front of a packed house, Bibbeluke-based artist Lucy Culliton – herself a finalist in the 2016 Archibalds – welcomed everyone to the exhibition while obviously enthused about the honour of being listed among Australia's best portrait artists.

In 2016, Ms Culliton scored “the trifecta”, having her portraits included as finalists in the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman. She has been an Archibald finalist on four occasions and said what an honour it was to be hung on gallery walls.

Ms Culliton said she loved the Bega gallery and that she had been hung in the Shirley Hannan and Flora Australis exhibitions previously.

She was also excited about winning “most successful novice” for flowers entered at the recent Bombala Show she said to an amused crowd!

Director Iain Dawson thanked everyone for turning out in numbers and also for the Bega Valley Shire Council for its support of his ideas for exhibitions. He also thanked the council for allowing entry to the Archibald exhibition to be free, so everyone in the community had an opportunity to enjoy the works.

Mayor Kristy McBain congratulated Mr Dawson for his efforts in seeing the BVRG “punching above its weight”.

“It's wonderful to see so many people come out to what is a wonderful show. It really is testament to what our curator Iain Dawson is bringin to the Valley – and that is much more cultural endeavour,” Cr McBain said.

“We have a lot of it already in the shire, but I think getting the Archibalds here typifies what we have to offer. We continue to punch well above our weight for a shire of our size and a gallery of our size.

“Tell your friends, tell your neighbours, ring your cousins in Eurobodalla and tell them ‘we got it!’”

There was also credit to entrants in the Young Archies, local school children whose portrait work is also on display in the BVRG, showcasing talent that may well one day end up in the major exhibition.

The Archibald Prize Regional Tour runs at the BVRG until May 13. Entry is free.