Image: Bendigo Art Gallery
Bendigo Art Gallery will activate the historic Bendigo Town Hall as a temporary contemporary art venue from 1 October to 13 December 2026, while its own building undergoes major redevelopment. The programme will bring installations, immersive screen works and significant works from Bendigo’s Civic Collection into the heritage building.
Among the announced highlights is ‘Thrifty Swifty’, a new Bendigo-commissioned installation by Rosie Deacon. Inspired by the endangered swift parrot, the work introduces a newly commissioned project to the Town Hall presentation.
Also announced is Back to Back Theatre’s ‘CHARGE! Agincourt’, an immersive screen-based work presented in partnership with ACMI. The two named projects are described as bringing contemporary artistic perspectives into dialogue with the Town Hall’s historic setting.
The presentation is not limited to the announced commissions and screen work: significant works from Bendigo’s Civic Collection will also be shown, and further experiences are yet to be announced. The result is a temporary residency that keeps the gallery’s creative programme active in Bendigo during construction, using one of the city’s celebrated heritage buildings for the presentation.
The Town Hall programme arrives as redevelopment work at the gallery advances beyond its earliest subterranean stage. Foundations, footings and essential underground services have been completed.
