ART Whitsunday certainly hasn't had an easy year with its gallery, and all it contained, burning to the ground in the Whitsunday Shopping Centre fire of April.

But on Friday night the group showed its spirit, hosting what proved to be a brilliant 29th annual exhibition.

"It's been hard not to have a permanent gallery where we can showcase our works," president Lyndy Hill told the crowd.

"The fire at the Whitsunday Shopping Centre was so disastrous for so many business and we were all shocked that night."

Ms Hill said a community effort had seen the exhibition remain on the agenda, thanking local businesses and the Men's Shed.

"It was very hard to get it all going again," she said.

"How can we support the Men's Shed for their generous help?"

Exhibition convener Kerry Kenyon said she and the administration committee were asked if the exhibition should go ahead after the devastating impact of the fire.

"I replied that we would need an exhibition more than ever this year to help keep Art Whitsunday together, give us an immediate goal and to help keep up our morale," she said on Friday night.

"Looking at this beautiful exhibition of talent in all areas of fine art, I feel reassured that we have attained those goals.

"In order to achieve this it has taken an unbelievable amount of work, largely by members of the committee, but also with the goodwill of the community."

Whitsunday MP Jason Costigan officially opened the exhibition, expressing his respect for the efforts of the group. "The arts community suffered one hell of a body blow some months ago," he said. "And I look at Michelle Andrews here tonight and others who suffered dearly in that fire and I take my hat off to them because they've shown great resilience."

AWARDEES

Theme: Down Under

Carol Bell

Whitsunday Regional Prize for Portraiture and Human Image

Peter Jennings

Easel Painting

Paul Johnson

Works on Paper

Jennifer Beaumont

Photographic Excellence

Tony Ayling

3D Sculpture, Ceramics

Paul Johnson

Textile, Fibre and Recycled

Diana Johnson