Benalla Art Gallery, Art museum in Benalla, Australia
Benalla Art Gallery is a modernist building situated beside Lake Benalla within the Benalla Botanical Gardens grounds. The structure contains multiple exhibition spaces displaying Australian artworks, with views overlooking the lake and surrounding gardens.
In 1972 Laurence Ledger donated a collection including works by Arthur Streeton and Hans Heysen to the City of Benalla, plus A$75,000 toward a gallery on the planned Lake Benalla. A petition against a A$65,000 loan was lodged in January 1973, but a compulsory referendum on 3 February passed in a landslide. The gallery, designed by Colin Munro and Philip Sargeant, opened in 1975.
The gallery's collection includes works by Constance Stokes and Jan Hendrik Scheltema. Since 2013 it has awarded the Benalla Nude Art Prize, a non-acquisitive $50,000 award for a work of the naked human figure; Juan Davila won the 2014 edition. The gallery is a member of the Public Galleries Association of Victoria.
The site is easily accessible with parking available, and a cafe and gift shop operate within the building. Visitors can comfortably extend their time by walking through the connected botanical gardens.
The museum regularly organizes workshops and talks that engage the local community in deeper conversations about artworks. These programs allow visitors to connect with artists and fellow art enthusiasts.
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