City Centre Arts Passport
January 9 - 30 2026
This January take yourself on an adventure into the world of the arts.
Follow the map to visit 12 local arts destinations and tick off your passport at each spot. From street art to galleries large and small, the city centre is the place to go for art!
You can collect a printed version of the Arts Passport at the Bendigo Visitor Information Centre from the 9th of January.
Find this at the Capital Theatre, 50 View Street Bendigo
Behind The Curtain
Bendigo Venues and Events (BV&E) Staff
Since 2020, BV&E have presented an annual exhibition in the Capital Foyer: Behind the Curtain. The aim of this exhibition is to encourage the making and sharing of art, and demonstrate the diversity of creative talents of BV&E staff
Find this facade commission at 121 View Street Bendigo
سفر نصیب / Safar Naseeb / Fated to journey
Elyas Alavi & Fazil Mousavi
Artist and poet Elyas Alavi, based in Naarm/Melbourne, has collaborated with Quetta-based senior artist Fazil Mousavi, bringing their explorations of the Hazara migratory experience into dialogue across oceans.
Find this at 16-22 View Street Bendigo
View St. Artist Collective
Helena Richardson-Collins, Llanvair Gallery
Boben Mammen
Alicia Thomas, Sandhurst Art Studio
Sarah Wallace-Smith, Art on View
Chris Duffy - Ha Ho Art
Frankie O
Kim Lowe - 2inspire
Come inside Bendigo’s hub of contemporary art, where you can browse, shop, and chat with Artists in their studios. Located within the Valentine’s Antiques building, the View St. Artist Collective showcases the diverse work of 6 talented local artists.
Discover everything from water colour paintings, and hand dyed silk garments, to contemporary artworks, jewelry, drawings, gift cards, prints, and more.
Image: Born to be | Irascible by Sarah Wallace-Smith
Find this at the Bendigo Visitor Information Centre, 51-67 Pall Mall Bendigo
PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE
Various artists
Djaa Djuwima is a dedicated and permanent First Nations Gallery on Dja Dja Wurrung Country.
PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE is a deeply conceptual exhibition theme. Artists have responded to the idea of past, present, and future through their own interpretations—exploring their personal cultural identities, lived experiences, and social or political commentary.
Image: Graphics by Michellie Charvat
Find this at the Bendigo Visitor Information Centre, 51-67 Pall Mall Bendigo
There's A Place At The Table For You
Leon Schoots curated by Michelle Symes
An exhibition celebrating Bendigo as the first UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy. In Greater Bendigo, food is more than what’s on the plate. It’s the language of welcome, a gesture of care and a celebration of culture and creativity. This exhibition invites you to experience the vital contributors in a city where gastronomy is woven into the fabric of community life.
All images by Leon Schoots
Find this in Fountain Court, 3 Mitchell Street Bendigo
Past; Present; Future
Amanda Williamson
This collection has been a journey through finding myself in my past, being present in the here and now and what my future promises to be.
1. El Callejón Azul Mural
Louise Davis, Tomi McManus & Wes Franklin
El Callejón Azul (The Blue Alley) was commissioned for the Fiesta Bendigo celebrations in 2025 and is inspired by Frida Kahlo's home - La Casa Azul.
2. Donut Studios Mural
Donut Studio participants
DONUT Studios, a local disability group, has created a vibrant new mural in Chancery Lane as part of the City’s Temporary Public Art Program 2025.
Participants co-designed the artwork – choosing colours, planning the layout, and learning paste-up techniques along the way.
3. First Nations Youth Mural Project
Shoshanna Love, Terri Flaherty, and Makaylah Franklin
The First Nations Youth Project mural highlights three young First Nations girls and their connection to their Aboriginal culture and community.
Image: Bill Conroy
Yirrup (Ironbark)
Curated by Nacho Station
Artists in alphabetical order: Alicia Huddy, Amanda Peluso, Andre Sardone, Bridget Finch, David Snowdon, Gus Eagleton, Jack Fran, Jasmine Howell-Saunders, Juzpop, Lauren Starr, Levi Jessen-Fennell, Manda Lane, Reece Hendy, Sarah Macumber, Steve Stanley, Troy Firebrace.
Hidden just beyond the edges of the city lies a forest unlike any other. The Box-Ironbark landscape is unique to this region. Ancient, resilient, and quietly blooming all year round. Though it can’t be seen from the streets of Bendigo, its presence surrounds us.
Featuring curated works from First Nations, local, and interstate artists, this open-air gallery invites you to pause, look closer, and feel the forest resonate through the laneway. Each artwork is a call and response, a conversation between Country and city, past and present, rooted in celebration of our wonderful natural heritage.
Find this window commission at the front of 25 Mitchell Street Bendigo
Witness of the Green & Still Waters
Shania Jane Charvat
Proud Palawa Pairrebeenne/Trawlwoolway Clan woman
Artwork created for NAIDOC week 2025.This year’s theme celebrates the strength and wisdom passed down through generations, while highlighting the vision of today’s young leaders shaping our collective future. It’s a call to honour the legacy of Elders and empower the next generation to carry our stories forward with pride and purpose. Emporium Creative Hub is a place for creative practitioners, students, entrepreneurs and businesses to work, connect, build their skills and expand their networks powered by La Trobe University Bendigo.
Image: Photo by Sania Jane Charvat
UNBOUND
Collection of artist living with disability
‘Unbound’ showcases artwork of artists with disability. The artworks have been exhibited at Dudley House and Parliament House Victoria. The project was foundered by Tamara Reinisch
Image: Photo by Maree Tonkin
Hargreaves Mall Activations
Hargreaves Mall plays host to fun, free, and family friendly activities all year round. Pop on down to see an ever changing program of music, dancing, games, art, movies, and markets to explore. To see what’s coming up visit the website below.
Image: Ella Filsell
Find this in the window of 273-277 Hargreaves Mall
Djaara seasons
Jackie Wirramanda
This painting captures the essence of the Djaara Seasonal Calendar, an educational and cultural reflection of the six distinct seasons observed by the Dja Dja Wurrung people
Image: Djaara seasons by Jackie Wirramanda
Find this in the window of the Bendigo Bank branch at 89 Mitchell Street Bendigo
Mythos & Magic
Arkie Starr MacRae & Yasmin Russell
A joint glimpse through a mythical and magical lens of humanoid expression.
Image: Arkie Starr MacRae
BV&E acknowledges the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Peoples as the traditional custodians of the lands where our venues stand and where we share stories through art and culture.
We acknowledge and pay respect to their Elders past, present and future.
