Art Gallery of Ballarat to close temporarily for significant upgrades

The Art Gallery of Ballarat will close in March to prepare for extensive interior upgrades that will enable the gallery to display more works from its permanent collection and secure international exhibitions.  

From 3 February, de-installation of some temporary exhibitions including Medieval to Metal will begin, and some galleries will close, while the permanent collection remains on display and open to the public.

From Monday, 3 March the Art Gallery of Ballarat will close entirely. It is anticipated that it will re-open in early 2026.  

Once closed, the de-installation of the permanent collection will take place ahead of stage one of the works. The first stage includes interior wall lining enhancement which will enable dynamic displays of artworks at varying heights, allowing more of the 11,500 permanent collection artworks to be displayed.

Additionally, as part of the State Government’s Regional Collections Access Program, a $536,707 upgrade of the building's skylights to energy efficient LED panels will also occur. With the correct lighting conditions, the gallery can display more works on paper which are sensitive to light and UV.

Integral to the program of works is the installation of a new Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system.  

The $5.5 million project, funded by the City of Ballarat, will replace the existing HVAC system which is at end-of-life. A new state-of-the-art HVAC system that meets international museum standards is essential for securing the best international exhibitions and loans of significance. Refurbishment of both the passenger and freight lifts will also take place.

In 2024 the State Government announced funding of $388,850 for the Art Gallery of Ballarat to complete a Master Plan that will drive the ambitious future direction of the Art Gallery of Ballarat. The 2025 interior upgrade works are an integral part of the long-term plan.  

While closed, back-of-house staff will work on much needed collection digitisation and documentation, as well as forward planning. Front-of-house staff will be re-deployed to other projects along with off-site programs and activities.  Examples include:  

• The Gallery Shop pop-up at 50 Lydiard Street, Nth (formerly Evans Bakery)  
• Backspace exhibition program to continue at 43 Mair Street off-site venue  
• NextGen 2025, which showcases the best student art from the Ballarat region, taking place at GovHub  
• Further off-site education and public program activities to be announced  

Art Gallery of Ballarat Director Louise Tegart said she understood that a closure was disappointing for those who love visiting regularly, but that the interior upgrades are essential to maintain operations and would result in more compelling experiences.  

“Home to more than 11,500 works, the Art Gallery of Ballarat holds the most significant permanent collection in regional Australia. The interior upgrades project will allow us to better display rarely seen paintings, sculptures and works on paper,” Ms Tegart said.    

“Most importantly, replacing the HVAC system, which is at end of life, will ensure that we comply with the strict environmental standards required to host international exhibitions and also preserve our incredible collection.

“The Art Gallery of Ballarat is the oldest regional gallery in Australia, founded in 1884. We are so proud of our heritage, and we know these capital works will ensure our future programming meets international standards and expectations of our community.”  

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the Art Gallery of Ballarat delivered enormous cultural and visitor economy impact and the works would further enhance its role in Ballarat’s community and tourism sectors.    

“The interior works and upgraded HVAC system will ensure the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s team is able to secure iconic loans from respected institutions and put on blockbuster shows that will engage our community, attract tourists and contribute to our economy,” Cr Hargreaves said.  

“In 2023-24 the Art Gallery of Ballarat had 150,607 visitors through its doors and had an estimated economic impact of $46 million. Once these works are completed, we expect the impact to be bolstered further.”