Visual Arts Centre

Visual Arts Centre

Development of the Visual Arts Centre on View Street, Bendigo

The Victorian State Government's Regional Infrastructure Development Fund supported the development of La Trobe University's Visual Arts Centre building, on View Street, directly opposite the Bendigo Art Gallery and the Capital Theatre.

The facility presents a variety of contemporary exhibitions, seminars, workshops, Master Classes and Artist-in-Residency programs. Whilst being located in a heritage precinct, the contemporary design of the building sits in counterpoint with the architecture of the nineteenth century verandah fronted shops that adjoin it. It engendered considerable local interest whilst passing through the City of Greater Bendigo's planning process.

The architect, Peter Elliott, has described his design concept as a contemporary building that expresses the 'spirit of a working arts facility', whilst meshing into the locale context. The street façade communicates an aspect of the contemporary arts housed within, being composed of two floating glass screens with subtle duotone type printed images on them by painting lecturer and nationally recognised artist Robyn Burgess.

The building layout is based around a series of courtyards that provide access to daylight, ventilation, visual relief and useable outdoor activity and display space. In the Japanese style there is a strong indoor outdoor relationship between spaces which provides a dynamic setting for staff, students, visiting artists and the public. The building is organised around two principal zones, being the front of house Gallery and Lecture Theatre zone, and the back-of-house Artist-in-Residence apartment and Studios

The successful building tenderer for the project was Morey and Hurford of Bendigo, who commenced work on the site in May 2004 and completed the project in April 2005.

Work in progress
Construction in July 2004	Construction in August 2004
Construction in August 2004	Construction in September 2004