  Benalla Art Gallery plays an important role as the regional art museum for North Eastern Victoria. Situated on the Broken River in the Benalla Botanic Gardens, the building is one of the best designed and pleasantly sited museums of the 1970s. The collection is primarily devoted to Australian painting. The generous Ledger Gift gave the institution the bulk of its historic collection including such works as Arthur Streeton's painting Impression for Golden Summer, 1888. The recent Bennet Bequest allows for a significant expansion and development of that area, unequalled in any other regional gallery. The contemporary end of the collection is also being added to with major works, among them Juan Davila and Howard Arkley's important installation Blue chip instant decorator; a room 1991-92, which was recently acquired. Apart from the appeal of the permanent collection, the Benalla Art Gallery has developed a temporary exhibitions program to service regional needs and bring wider aspects and issues in Australian art to the local audience. A recent recipient of funding under the Federal Federation Grant, the Benalla Art Galleri is planning a modest elegant upgrade of the 20 year old facility. The Benalla Art Gallery is an easy two hour drive from Melbourne, and is half an hour's drive from the Shepparton Art Gallery. It is close to the Milawa Wine and food region, historic Beechworth and Victoria's high country.  For further information on the public gallery network in Victoria contact: Public Galleries Association of Victoria Inc. (PGAV) c/- National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 3004 Tel: 61 3 9208 0361 Fax: 61 3 9208 0245 |
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