Bulletin

Issue: June 2005

News

La Trobe $3 million Visual Arts Centre opens at Bendigo

La Trobe University’s new $3 million Visual Arts Centre in Bendigo was opened in May by State Treasurer and Minister for State and Regional Development, Mr John Brumby.

Mr Brumby, left, and Vice-Chancellor
Osborne opening the new centre.
Top: part of the facade.

La Trobe University's new $3 million Visual Arts Centre in Bendigo was opened in May by State Treasurer and Minister for State and Regional Development, Mr John Brumby.

Located in Bendigo's View St Arts Precinct, it houses a gallery, a print workshop - the only public facility of its kind outside Melbourne - three postgraduate studios, a lecture theatre and a residence and studio to attract visiting artists from Australia and overseas.

Mr Brumby said the centre will enhance Bendigo's reputation as one of Australia's foremost regional arts destinations, and a major centre of cultural heritage.

‘It will provide opportunities to attract signifi cant artists and art groups to the precinct through contemporary exhibitions, seminars and artist-in-residence programs.'

He said the centre, and other Regional Infrastructure Development Fund projects such as the Centre of Sustainable Regional Communities - also situated at La Trobe University in Bendigo - have helped boost Bendigo's economic and social life.

La Trobe Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Osborne, said the Centre extends La Trobe University's commitment to research excellence at its regional campuses and he welcomed State government support in bringing it to fruition.

‘This working visual arts facility is unique in regional Victoria and a signifi cant new asset for Bendigo and the Visual Arts in central Victoria. It will promote University research excellence and support and showcase contemporary visual arts practice in central Victoria.' The centre has an impressive facade of glass screens which bring art directly to the street. They feature printed images by local artist Robyn Burgess.

A La Trobe lecturer in the School of Visual Arts and Design at Bendigo, Ms Burgess has exhibited her work nationally and internationally.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Bendigo), Professor Peter Sullivan, said the innovative architectural facade had already attracted interest from the community and the arts world. ‘The art work, entitled Future Cities, provides a compelling gateway to the building which is likely to become an important architectural addition to Bendigo,' he said. Ms Burgess said her work was made specifi cally for the building to refl ect its modernity and function, and to amplify the architect's design of the facade.

Four postgraduate students - in studiobased research in printmaking, photography and painting - will be the fi rst to work from the Centre. They include award-winning photographic artist Donna Bailey who was short-listed in the recent Australian Photographic Portrait Prize.