Visitors taking a break from the hectic city life but do not want to break away from their passion for arts, can immerse themselves in regional Victoria new and established arts experiences.

Art Destinations

Art Gallery of Ballarat is Australia's oldest and largest regional art gallery. Visitors can marvel at the gilt-framed colonial artworks as well as the contemporary and indigenous pieces.  The gallery’s temporary exhibitions are internationally acclaimed, and visitors can join one of the dedicated gallery Guides for a special tour of the exhibition to discover some of the stories of the artists and artworks in the exhibition.

After soaking in the Art Gallery of Ballarat, visitors can head down to in the belly of the Lost Ones Contemporary Art Gallery for a refresher at the Basement Bar, originally a dining hall. Post-refresher, visitors can continue exploring the contemporary gallery which is housed in a 19th-century Masonic Lodge and plays hosts to regular exhibitions from local and national artists.

The Bendigo Art Gallery is one of the oldest and largest regional galleries in Australia, established in 1887. Visitors can engage with the gallery’s extensive and varied collection which includes Australian painting, sculpture, ceramics, decorative arts, photography, works on paper from the 19th century to the present day.

The Horsham Town Hall is home to the Horsham Regional Art Gallery which houses a significant collection of Australian photography charting its history from inception to today. The refurbishment, expansion and modernisation of the Horsham Regional Art Gallery has cemented it as an icon of visual arts where visitors can reconnect with the Mack Jost gift of Australian Painting and Works on Paper.

With more than eight exhibition spaces, The Convent Gallery in Daylesford offers visitors collectors alike, a truly diverse range of art by local, national and international artists working in a variety of media and styles.

Situated in the High Country, the Wall to Wall Festival Benalla has grown from strength to strength since its inception 2015. The festival brings together a dynamic combination of local, national and international artists to create new murals across this quaint country town over four lively days (usually over the Labour day long weekend).

Part of the Yarra Valley Art Trail, TarraWarra Museum of Art has become recognised as the cultural jewel of the Yarra Valley, providing visitors with an enjoyable and inspiring experience which combines stunning architecture with the very best of modern and contemporary art. Over 70 temporary themed exhibitions have been presented at the Museum to date, covering a diverse range of stimulating and innovative Australian and international art in group and collection shows and single artist surveys, providing the opportunity to experience fresh contexts in which to view Australian art today.

Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery embraces traditional and contemporary art in all its forms, ensuring there’s something for everyone. National touring exhibitions and MPRG-curated exhibitions offer a rich cultural experience for the local community as well as visitors to the region – many travelling the easy distance from Melbourne to enjoy the Mornington Peninsula’s beautiful coastal scenery and hinterland. Those wanting venture further afield and be outdoors can follow the Sorrento-Portsea Artist Trail that covers the southernmost tip of the Mornington Peninsula and can be accessed by car and then by foot. This half day trail takes visitors to the area where the artist would have sat to paint.

The National Wool Museum is housed in a beautifully restored 1872 bluestone wool store in the heart of Geelong. The Museum is Australia's largest comprehensive museum of wool, showcasing the region's wool story from the sheep's back to the clothes rack, and from the birth of the industry in the 1840's to its place in the world today.

Also in Geelong is Boom Gallery, where visitors can take in the vibrant contemporary art and design gallery housed in an historic woollen mill. The gallery houses work of emerging and established artists and they also have a large stockroom and an education and workshop space. Boom also has an onsite café and events space and is one of the region’s most dynamic galleries.

Walks of art