Latest news with #BendigoArtGallery
Time Out
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A popular regional art gallery is undergoing a major transformation to become bigger and bolder
Already known to be one of Australia's oldest and largest regional art galleries, Bendigo Art Gallery's reputation is set to soar to even greater heights with a multi-million dollar upgrade now in the works. Over the next few years, the gallery will undergo redevelopment in two stages, with a big reopening in early 2028. The first stage will deliver what's being dubbed the People's Gallery – a reimagined, fully accessible space focused on education, community, and deepening recognition of Traditional Owners. You can expect a dedicated second-floor gallery for blockbuster international exhibitions, a state-of-the-art children's gallery and learning studio, and a Place of Keeping designed in collaboration with the Dja Dja Wurrung community to house cultural materials. There will also be expanded public areas, better accessibility, and a new theatre space to host performances and talks. If all goes ahead, a second stage, pending a $15 million federal funding boost, will follow. This would add another 400 square metres of gallery space, focusing on spotlighting Australian artists, and a significant hospitality makeover, including a new restaurant, a revamped sculpture annexe, and a second-storey function terrace overlooking Rosalind Park. The design is a collaboration between Jackson Clements Burrows and Clare Design, drawing inspiration from the region's white clay and featuring a façade pattern by a Dja Dja Wurrung artist. While the beloved 19th-century galleries (Bolton, Drury and Abbott Courts) aren't being redeveloped, they are set to be sensitively restored. The gallery will close in November 2025, with construction scheduled to begin in early 2026. But art lovers won't be left in the lurch – an eclectic off-site exhibition program is being planned throughout Bendigo until the grand opening. This is the largest civic infrastructure project ever untaken by the City of Greater Bendigo – and promises to reshape the region's cultural landscape for generations to come. To learn more and follow the progress, visit the website here.
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Bendigo Art Gallery set to close for $45m redevelopment
One of Australia's "most significant" regional art galleries is set to close for two years while it gets a makeover worth tens of millions of dollars. The popular Bendigo Art Gallery, which has hosted exclusive international exhibits featuring Elvis, Grace Kelly, and Frida Kahlo in recent years, will close in November. The gallery and Bendigo's council have secured $45 million for stage one of the project, which they say will cost $54m in total. Federal funding is being sought to cover the remainder of the cost. "It's one of the most significant regional galleries in Australia, certainly one of the most visited in Australia," gallery director Jessica Bridgfoot said. "This place means a lot to the community and it does a lot in terms of functioning as a cultural hub and a space of education, but [is] also a key economic driver for the city." The 138-year-old gallery attracted nearly 125,000 visitors in 2023/24 and in 2022 the Elvis: Direct from Graceland exhibition injected $67m into the region. A 1,000-square-metre first-floor space for major exhibitions is proposed as part of the redevelopment. Ms Bridgfoot said that would allow the gallery to attract even bigger and more exclusive exhibits without sacrificing space for community and education programs. "We're already planning 2028 and beyond," she said. The ground floor will be free to visit and will retain three historic galleries and add a learning centre and theatrette. It will also include a place of keeping to house cultural artefacts of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. "In 2018 we worked with them on a really significant project and brought 20 cultural artefacts back to Bendigo on Djaara country," Ms Bridgfoot said. The Victorian Government has contributed $21m to the project, alongside $9m from the council and $4m from the gallery board. However not everyone is excited about the redevelopment. The size and scale of the design has drawn opposition from the Bendigo branch of the National Trust which said it threatened the 19th century heritage streetscape. City of Greater Bendigo chief executive Andrew Cooney said the redevelopment would be "sympathetic to the streetscape". "We think it sits really neatly with the buildings that surround it," he said. The gallery is expected to be closed until early 2028 and plans are in place for an offsite program to maintain tourism and community engagement. "We'll do everything we can over the next couple of years to make sure that we've still got people coming to Bendigo and those businesses can still benefit," Mr Cooney said.
