One of the many great features of living in Kiama and environs is that a day-return trip by car to Canberra's cultural attractions is easily achieved. For the next couple of weeks we strongly recommend that local lovers of comic or satirical portraits and political cartoons, should do as we have just done and travel to see both the 2024 Bald Archy exhibition (at the Watson Cultural Centre until 17 March) and the Behind The Lines 2023 exhibition of political cartoons at the Australian Museum of Democracy (Old Parliament House).

The first Bald Archy exhibition, conceived by the late Peter Batey, dates back to 1994 and has always aimed  to be  a cheeky rival to the better known Archibald Prize competition. A $10000 prize will be awarded on 15 March for the best comical or satirical portrait of an Australian  "distinguished " in Arts, Science, Letters, Politics, Sport or the Media - plenty to choose from! 

The exhibition is a riot of fun and absurdity, and not to be missed by political junkies.

Peter Batey's death in 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic, provided great uncertainty about its future, and nowadays it is organised by the Museum of the Riverina in Wagga Wagga. However, after 17 March, the 28th Bald Archies will be exhibited only in regional NSW locations much further away from Kiama than Canberra; check for Canberra opening times before you go.

Our added bonus was to also head to Old Parliament House for its annual riot of fun of political cartoons, this year centred on the theme "Fun and Games". While this exhibition will extend through 2024 we highly recommend combining the two in a day-return trip to Canberra. With Daylight Saving you can be back in "Australia’s Best Town" by sunset!

Gordon and Heather Bell, Kiama