Many of our nation's treasures await discovery in Canberra Discover the home of the Australian story in Canberra, where national attractions and hidden gems deliver an array of unexpected delights.
See the essence of Australia’s culture, history and way of life reflected in the national museums, and galleries in Canberra. These national attractions hold and share the treasures of our nation, offering an intriguing insight into Australian character and culture, and our journey from an Indigenous continent to a modern multicultural nation.
Visit major exhibitions including blockbuster Australian and international artists, works on display from major collections from around the world and our own collections housed in national galleries, museums, archives, libraries and memorials.
Share our local secrets Step back in time at the National Dinosaur Museum and experience Canberra’s rich and diverse social history and visual arts at the Canberra Museum and Gallery. Upstairs, Craft ACT’s galleries offer contemporary craft and design from Canberra’s world-class artists.
Be blown away by glass at the Canberra Glassworks and see examples of glasswork from the delicate to the astounding.Beyond national museums and galleries Canberra has a cultural life of its own with a thriving arts scene with many local galleries including the Canberra Contemporary Art Space, ANCA Galleries, M16 Art Space, Beaver Galleries, the ANU School of Art programs and numerous commercial galleries offering local and international art for sale.
The Canberra region is also home to some world renowned artisans, including Bison Homewares, Peter Crisp Glass, artists in residence at the Canberra Glassworks and the Bungendore Wood Works Gallery.
For more information visit www.artsaroundcanberra.com.au
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Discover a diverse range of contemporary visual arts, craft and performance from local artists at the ANCA Gallery. ANCA runs a full program of exhibitions and artist's events including floor talks. Program changes fortnightly. ANCA's aim is to foster artistic growth by giving artists low cost...
Enjoy an annual exhibiton program which reflects the international profile of the Australian National University's School of Art. The School of Art Gallery presents a lively and diverse program of events throughout the year. The Photospace Galleries host a lively program of Public Lectures...
Indulge yourself and escape from the city in this beautiful national collection of Australian plants at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Explore the diversity of Australia's weird and wonderful plants. See the rare and the beautiful. Hear native birdsong as you walk along winding paths....
"Here is their spirit, in the heart of the land they loved; and here we guard the record which they themselves made" (Charles Bean, founder). The Australian War Memorial commemorates the sacrifice of Australian men and women who served in war. Visit one of the world's great museums; an...
Beaver Galleries is Canberra's largest privately owned commercial gallery. This well established and highly regarded gallery features outstanding pieces by contemporary Australian artists. Works include painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics and glass. All artwork is for sale. Do not miss...
After operating for nine years from Workshop Bilk in Queanbeyan, Bilk Gallery is now open in Palmerston Lane in the heart of Manuka. Bilk Gallery was conceived to bring together both the makers and the public to create dialogue and promote the best of young emerging artists and established...
This small stone cottage on the northern shore of Lake Burley Griffin was built about 1860 as a home for Duntroon Estate workers. The cottage is now a fascinating hands-on museum and a memorial to the pioneers of the limestone plains. Over time the national capital has grown around Blundells...
This friendly gallery is jam packed with fine paintings by Canberra’s regional artists. See landscapes, street scenes, Australian flora and fauna, impressionist and realist interpretations. Meet artists in store. Their monthly exhibitions introduce artists from far and wide to the...
Bungendore Wood Works Gallery exhibits and promotes Australian wood art, sculpture, giftware and contemporary furniture by the country's foremost designer and makers in wood. Witness the pride they have in the skill and art of Australia's craft people, and in the varied richness and beauty of...
Visit Calthorpes’ House and step back to life in early Canberra. Not far from the city centre, this Spanish Mission Style house was built in 1927 and is a window into an almost forgotten world. This genuine survivor is a treasure house of domestic history. Original furnishings, household...
Visit this vibrant centre for the experience of contemporary art. Canberra Contemporary Art Space is dedicated to the generation, presentation and promotion of innovative contemporary visual arts practice in Australia. Its program of exhibitions, performances, artists’ talks and publications...
See the largest giant antennae in the Southern Hemisphere. Learn all about NASA. See a piece of 3.8 billion-year-old Moon rock. Take a look around the Canberra Space Centre where you can watch a space movie, check out what the well-dressed astronaut wears, and get the latest space news. For the
See professional glass artists at work. Make your own glass beads and tiles. Take introductory glass courses from the experts and see their striking exhibitions. Canberra Glassworks is housed in the historic Kingston Powerhouse. Take a free tour on weekends (11am) through the building and...
The Canberra Museum and Gallery integrates visual arts and social history in a range of exciting exhibitions, projects and education programs, which explore Canberra's cultural and social issues and possibilities for Canberra's future. Housing a permanent collection, Reflecting Canberra, and a...
Visit a working museum and the home to Australia's oldest operating steam locomotive, built in 1878. See Australia's largest and most powerful steam engine. Canberra Railway Museum contains a variety of exhibits. Their railway yard houses locomotives, rail motors, passenger cars, freight cars...
Visit Chapman Gallery; one of the first Australian galleries to ethically represent Aboriginal artists by selling art sourced from community based art centres. Chapman Gallery began specialising in Australian Indigenous art in 1983. The gallery has a commitment to promoting indigenous...
This small gallery is within walking distance from the city in the leafy suburb of Ainslie. Enjoy the collection of antiques and recent examples of hand embroidered fabrics, ceramics and jewellery, framed golden textile treasures and stitching, wall-hangings, saris, and carvings from Central,...
Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre is a professionally run gallery presenting exhibitions of craft and design including textiles and fibre, metal and jewellery, glass, ceramics, furniture and objects. Visit the Centre to experience cutting edge contemporary craft and design in the heart of the...
Take an interactive journey through CSIRO and Australian science history at CSIRO Discovery. See research in action in the laboratories. Do hands-on experiments in the Optuslab. Visit the 3D theatre and see the latest information on the CSIROvision optiportal. See medical advances in health and...
View exhibitions by leading Australian and international artists at the Drill Hall Gallery. The gallery’s selective program of exhibitions highlights achievements in contemporary visual arts. The Gallery supports the arts in the Canberra region by presenting exhibitions developed in conjunction...
Ecology and Art House- EartH is a studio and gallery dedicated to sustainability. See works by Malcolm Cooke, Marily Cintra and numerous invited artists. Visit the studio and pottery. EartH holds regular exhibitions and workshops. Ecology and Art House is open to the public on weekends and...
Be amazed by incredible murals in this beautiful unique building. Murals that depict biblical scenes and church history cover the walls and line the ceiling of this replica ancient Serbian village church. The church is the work of the late Karl George Matzek. He started the project aged 77. It...
The Gallery of Australian Design aims to promote Australian Design in all its forms. See exhibitions and events of national significance and international design exhibitions. The gallery is a unique partnership between the University of Canberra, the Australian Institute of Architects, the...
Geoscience Australia is Australia's national geoscience research and geospatial information agency. The large foyer area at Geoscience Australia has on display a superb collection of world-class minerals, rocks, fossils, maps and historical equipment. Learn about the activities of Geoscience...
Built as a hostel in 1924, Gorman House Arts Centre is located in a graceful heritage precinct just five minutes from the City Centre. Gorman House Arts Centre is home to visual artists; theatre and dance companies; and arts organisations. It houses the award winning Sage Cafe and a lively arts...
Arts Around Canberra