A Bigger and Better Art Gallery for Bendigo
A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will support the delivery of a massive redevelopment of the Bendigo Art Gallery to support jobs, tourism and the vibrant local creative community.
Greater Bendigo is booming, with the Bendigo Art Gallery already a major drawcard for domestic and international travellers, attracting between 150,000 to 200,000 visitors per year.
A re-elected Labor Government will invest $21 million towards a revitalised ‘People’s Gallery’ with more exhibition space, a dedicated learning centre and better recognition of Traditional Owners.
The redevelopment will include a new central foyer, enhanced gallery spaces, a large blockbuster exhibition space on the second-level and expanded access to free and collection-based displays.
A purpose-built innovative learning centre, with a workshop space for students and families and an interactive children’s gallery will be open seven days a week for families to enjoy.
First Nations’ stories will be at the heart of the redevelopment, with Traditional Owner recognition via placemaking, landscaping and Place of Keeping for the Dja Dja Wurrung collection.
The Gallery will also feature world-class retail and hospitality offerings including a redeveloped restaurant. The Gallery shop will also be given a facelift to feature local artisans and pop-up retail sites.
The redevelopment aims to increase visitors by approximately 30 per cent – with an extra 60,000 visitors expected to walk through the gallery’s doors each year.
Earlier this year Bendigo Art Gallery hosted the sold-out Elvis: Direct from Graceland, welcoming more than 400,000 visitors through their doors, smashing attendance records to be the most successful exhibition ever at Bendigo Art Gallery.
Labor has invested more than $36 billion in rural and regional Victoria since 2015. In Bendigo alone, we are delivering the new Law Courts, Galkangu Bendigo GovHub, building and upgrading new schools, and we have just opened three new train stations for Raywood, Goornong and Huntly alongside the Bendigo and Echuca V/Line upgrade.
Matthew Guy’s Liberals’ underfunded plan for Bendigo Art Gallery shows they can’t be trusted to deliver what the community needs.
The people of Bendigo know all too well the cuts inflicted on their community by Matthew Guy’s Liberals. They slashed around 100 jobs at Bendigo TAFE, planned to cut 265 aged care beds as part of their privatisation of public aged care and cut critical out-of-hours mental health services at Bendigo Health.
Only Labor will invest in the infrastructure that delivers for rural and regional Victorians.
Quotes attributable to Labor Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan
“The people of Bendigo deserve the very best facilities, which is why we are going to revitalise Bendigo Art Gallery, attracting thousands more visitors to our region each year.”
"For years the Liberals and Nationals have only taken an interest in Bendigo when they come looking for votes at election time. Their underfunded promises can’t be trusted and only Labor will deliver what our community needs.”
Quotes attributable to Labor Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards
“Bendigo Art Gallery has the potential to be one of Australia’s leading galleries - recognised by both local and international visitors.”
“Our redevelopment will help the Gallery unlock its full potential, attracting bigger audiences, showcasing more artworks and creating more jobs – a win for Bendigo and the wider community.”