Shepparton Art Museum Redevelopment Project gets $10 million boost

The Victorian Government has announced that it will contribute $10 million to the $34.5 million Shepparton Art Museum Redevelopment Project – which aims to transform the cultural vibrancy, liveability and visitor economy of the regional city. 

The project will see the Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) relocated to a more visually prominent and accessible location at the city’s Victoria Lake Park and, in the process, is seen as a catalyst in activating Shepparton as a cultural destination and in increating local jobs and visitation, attracting business investment, and boosting consumer spending in the region’s retail, hospitality and accommodation sectors.

The redevelopment will deliver a new art museum with increased capacity to showcase its unique ceramics, indigenous and multi-cultural collections to Victorian, interstate and international visitors.

With forecasts that the project will increase visitation to the Museum from 36,869 to over 90,000 in three years’ time, the project is also expected to boost visitor spending in the region by $6.25 million per annum. 

As seen in regional cities such as Albury and Bendigo, cultural tourism can help a city thrive by creating local job opportunities, increasing visitation, attracting business investment, and boosting consumer spending across a variety of sectors including retail and hospitality. 

Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor Dinny Adem said the investment will have a significant positive impact on the local economy, stating “a new SAM is a game changer for Greater Shepparton. 

“It will position our region as a strong tourism destination and will attract more visitors, entice more people to live here and investors to the area, as well as diversifying our economy.”

Victorian Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford added “redeveloping the Shepparton Art Museum will greatly enhance Shepparton’s key cultural asset. 

“It will boost the region’s liveability, cultural connectedness within its Indigenous and multicultural communities, and help to attract new visitors, residents and investors.”

The project will deliver:

• A new multi-level and energy efficient building
• Studio space designed to host an ‘artists in residence program’
• Studio spaces for workshops and use by community groups
• A Children’s Gallery to promote exploration and learning through sensory, emotional and intellectual stimulation
• A community piazza
• A Grand Hall, ideal for events and functions
• A permanent home for Shepparton’s Visitor Information Centre and Gallery Kaiela (an not-for-profit Aboriginal art gallery)
• Display space for new art collections and acquisitions
• A theatrette for screenings and performances, particularly in support the Australian National Piano Awards and the Shepparton Arts Festival.

The funding has been allocated from the Victorian Government’s $500 million Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund, contingent on Australian Government funding through the National Stronger Regions Fund. 

Image (from left): From left to right, Greater Shepparton City Council Director Community Kaye Thomson, Victorian Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford and Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor Dinny Adem. (Courtesy of Greater Shepparton City Council).

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