Bendigo Art Gallery Guides celebrate 30th anniversary 

Past and present Bendigo Art Gallery Guides are celebrating the 30th anniversary since tours began at the gallery. During the past three decades, volunteer guides have been conducting twice-daily tours of permanent collections at Bendigo Art Gallery. They also host introductory talks for special exhibitions, provide tours for visitors with accessibility needs and assist the gallery’s Education Officers.

Established in 1887, Bendigo Art Gallery is one of the oldest and largest regional galleries in Australia. Bendigo Art Gallery has developed a reputation for an outstanding national and international exhibition program, presenting exhibitions such as Grace Kelly: Style Icon from the Victoria & Albert Museum and Grimaldi Forum and The Body Beautiful in Ancient Greece from the British Museum.

Bendigo Art Gallery's collection is extensive and varied. It includes Australian painting, sculpture, ceramics, decorative arts, photography, works on paper from the 19th century to the present day. 

The gallery also delivers a dynamic and varied suite of public programs and events alongside significant international and travelling exhibitions, attracting diverse audiences from across Victoria, and from metropolitan Melbourne.

Acting Director Bendigo Art Gallery Gaye Harrington said the gallery guides have played an integral role at the gallery over the past 30 years.

Harrington advised “the City would like to thank past and present guides who have volunteered their time and contributed greatly to the smooth running of the gallery.

“We are so grateful for the guides’ enthusiasm and commitment and their strong desire to share their understanding of the gallery’s permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.

“It’s a remarkable achievement that we’re now celebrating 30 years since the tours began.”

The guides undertake an initial 12-month training course and are involved in regular ongoing education sessions to keep up to date when works are added to the gallery’s permanent collection and for when they are hosting tours for the gallery’s major exhibitions.

The volunteer guides also pay regular visits to exhibitions at the National Gallery of Victoria, as well as regional and interstate galleries to enhance their knowledge.

The gallery guides recently hosted the Association of Australian Gallery Guiding Organisations four-day conference in Bendigo, which attracted 250 guides from across the country. It was the first time that the event was held here.

Invited past and present gallery guides will celebrate the 30th anniversary with a special afternoon tea this Friday (26th April).