Known as sport fans, The Australians also love art. All the different cities of Australia are full of cultural activities from literature and music to theaters, dance and visual arts such as painting and cinema. To have a little sense of cultural and artistic life which is happening all around Australia, below is a sample list focusing on the visual arts. It will provide details of galleries and the museums showcasing Australian art.
National Gallery of Victoria
National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) was established in 1861 and is the oldest public art gallery in Australia. NGV owns a rich collection of more than 66,000 works of art from Roman and Egypt antiques, ancient Asian art to the Renaissance, Baroque and contemporary art. National Gallery of Victoria has two main galleries are exhibiting on a short distance apart, both are free for visitors.
MONA museum
MONA stands for Museum of Old and New Art. The museum owns a collection of modern art, old artifacts and antiques with over 400 art works. The complex rooms and mezzanines give visitors the feeling as a young child discovering this place. The museum is a rebel Disneyland for adults according to the founder and director of the gallery, David Walsh. In the 3.5 ha site, there is also a function center, a winery and vineyard, bars, a cinema, a library, a restaurant,… David Walsh said that the guilt of earning millions of dollars from professional gambling is one of the reasons why he decided to open the renowned museum at Horbat .
National Gallery of Australia
Currently the National Gallery of Australia has 13 galleries with 7,500 different artifacts including paintings of water, textiles, embroidered fabrics, ceramics and sculptures... Most ancient artifacts are 1,800 years old including set of tools in the rituals of the ancients. Rare paintings were purchased from famous painters during the year 1971-1974.
Queensland Cultural Centre
Coming to Queensland Cultural Centre, you will have a chance to see the animated Queensland dinosaurs with their environment and sound effects, the works of famous Australian artists and watch ballet, opera or symphony orchestra. You will also find out musical performances, comedy, dance, art, markets and restaurants.
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Located within beautiful parklands overlooking Sydney Harbour, the Art Gallery of New South Wales is one of the leading art museums in Astralia. It holds an amazing collection of Australian art, European masters, Asian treasures and local modern contemporary art. The gallery gives you the chance to discover Sydney culture with free celebrity talks, lectures, music, performances, films, workshops and special events. It also offers a stunning view of Woolloomoloo harbour from a top floor cafe. You can also easily walk through a botanical garden or an opera house nearby.
Western Australian Maritime Museum
Located in Fremantle, Western Australian Maritime Museum is a branch of the Western Australian Museum in Perth. It is considered the symbol of the past, present and future of this city. Entering the museum, visitors will have a chance to admire the boats from yachting, sailing, crafts, racing boats to the giant submarine… and discover fascinating stories about the navy as well as the Western Australian maritime trade.