BENDIGO ART GALLERY

Welcome to The Gallery

Founded in 1887, Bendigo Art Gallery is one of the oldest, most visited and most highly regarded regional galleries in Australia. Situated in the Bendigo CBD, the gallery is both a regional and national destination recognised for its creative, cultural, social, and economic contribution to the local community.

The gallery boasts an extensive collection of contemporary Australian art as well as 19th century European works and Australian art from the 1800s. In addition to exhibitions of visual and decorative arts, Bendigo Art Gallery is recognised nationally for its specialist program of major fashion history and textile design exhibitions. Over the last decade, it has become a destination gallery for audiences with an interest in fashion and design thanks to its reputation for presenting innovative international exhibitions working alongside some of the world’s best museums and galleries.

As well as presenting acclaimed exhibitions, the gallery delivers a diverse range of public programs and learning opportunities for families and people of all ages and abilities to connect, engage, explore, and discover through the arts. The suite of programs provides unique cultural experiences through innovative in-person events and workshops and accessible digital resources.

The Gallery also features a café and gift shop located at the rear of the Gallery adjacent to Rosalind Park. The Gallery is open from 10am-5pm every day of the year except Christmas day, and entry is free except for ticketed exhibitions.

Sculpture Trail Part 1

Bendigo Art Gallery features several outdoor sculptures which form a sculpture trail, which is briefly described here. At the front of the gallery, near the View Street entrance you’ll find the first piece of art by Sydney-based artist Alex Seton entitled ‘Sometimes the dead are more alive than the living’. This sculpture depicts a large, anonymous human skull carved from solid white marble. The skull rests on a square white marble base with an inscription on the front which reads ‘Keep on keeping on’. As with all artworks, the meaning is open to interpretation. However, Seton is known to use his art to question what is happening around him and to pursue political themes.

Also at the front of the gallery near View Street is a sculpture by artist Sebastian Di Mauro entitled ‘Folly’. This large artwork takes the form of an ornamental garden structure, constructed of polystyrene, steel and timber and covered entirely with artificial grass. Designed purely for decoration, a ‘Folly’ was often included in 18th century ornamental garden designs for visual and aesthetic pleasure.

Sculpture Trail Part 2

Walk around behind the gallery to find two more sculptures. The first is by artist Matt Calvert and is titled ‘Peter stared into the vast unknown.’ It is a sculpture of a Peter Rabbit style bunny made of laminated toughened glass and steel. The rabbit sits on his hind legs and appears to be peering off into the distance.

The final sculpture is titled ‘Happy Ending?’ by Melbourne-based artist Michael Doolan. The work is a large-scale, shimmering fibre-glass sculpture covered in black automotive paint which reflects its surroundings. It depicts a teddy bear gazing in the direction of a small bird that appears to have fallen from a tree. The bear is covering his eyes as if to cry, but as with most of Doolan’s sculptures, which capture a turning point or key moment in an undisclosed narrative, the outcome of the bird’s fall is not yet known. Doolan asks, “Can the observer bring this troubling scenario to its rightful conclusion?” This is one piece in a series where Doolan explores the hidden, often black meaning behind popular children’s fairy tales.

Accessibility

Bendigo Art Gallery is committed to providing an accessible experience for all audiences. On arrival, be sure to call via the reception desk near the View Street entrance where gallery staff will be happy to assist and answer any questions. Gallery guides have been trained to assist visitors with low vision, and companion cards are accepted. Assistance and guide dogs are welcomed at the gallery, and dog water bowls are available on request at reception. Level access to the gallery is available via the View Street or Rosalind Park entrance, and the gallery exhibition spaces, café and gift shop are all accessible via ramp.

They also strive to create accessible experiences through their range of programs that offer opportunities for focused encounters with art through visual, auditory, tactile, and sensory experiences. Please contact the gallery directly for information about current and upcoming programs that feature multi-sensory elements, or to enquire about before hours access to major exhibits.