Arts Guide: The best arts experiences in regional Victoria this month

Portrait prizes to wagga's: we have you covered on the most exciting exhibitions happening across regional Victoria this month.

September is a stacked with prestigious arts events, local arts showcases and archival reinterpretations.

Here are some of the best arts exhibitions happening across regional Victoria this month.

Keep up to date with all things arts, exhibitions and stage here.

Archibald Prize 2025

 

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The most prestigious art prize in Australia, the annual Archibald Prize is eagerly anticipated by artists and audiences alike. The submission-based prize is judged by the trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW, with the prize awarded to the best portrait painting. The over century old tradition highlights figures from celebrities to local legends. Exclusive to Victorian audiences, the winning and finalist Archibald Prize works will be on display at Geelong Gallery in a touring exhibition.

WHEN: SAT 30 AUG – SUN 9 NOV

WHERE: GEELONG GALLERY

Salted

 

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Artists and friends, Sarah Doyle and Kirsten Dunkley, combine their sense of humour, their artistic flair, and their love for the ocean and the marine ecology in this fishy exhibition. Works are presented across a range of mediums including painted in oil and acrylic and a swathe of unique ceramics all featuring a fishy or local coastal theme. From an underwater dive with fish friends to an octopus, crabs and lobsters, to the sky and seascapes, this exhibition is a coastal culmination.

WHEN: FRI 26 SEP – SAT 4 OCT

WHERE: APOLLO BAY ARTS INC GALLERY

Material Cause

 

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Take a step into the art and textiles archive of Bendigo Art Gallery’s collection in Material Cause. Following many years of successful exhibition programming with a focus on costume and fashion, Bendigo Art Gallery recently established an Australian Fashion Collection. The collection is focused on themes of sustainability, diversity and inclusivity, and a special focus on First Nations design. An exciting new acquisition in this collection are the works of multidisciplinary artist and designer, Jordan Gogos.

WHEN: UNTIL SUN 30 NOV

WHERE: BENDIGO ART GALLERY

David Beaumont: Mallee Suite

 

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For more than two years, Queenscliff-based artist David Beaumont focused on painting the Mallee region of north-western Victoria. The culmination of this exploration is the Mallee Suite; large scale abstract oil paintings and vibrant sculptures that have successfully captured the iconic open spaces and big skies of our idiosyncratic corner of the world. The works are curated to transport viewers into the picturesque setting.

WHEN: UNTIL SAT 25 OCT

WHERE: HORSHAM REGIONAL ART GALLERY

Hagoromo (Full Flower Moon)

 

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A showcase exhibition of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, Hagoromo (Full Flower Moon) is the world premiere of works from Hiromi Tango (JAP/AUS) as curated by Ellen Wignell. Inspired by classical Japanese theatre, Noh as well as Hanakatoba, this series explores the artist’s Japanese-Australian cultural identity, delving into uncomfortable spaces of grief, separation, longing, and loss. This work is a photographic series of six images that retell the famous Noh play, Hagoromo (The Feather Mantle).

WHEN: UNTIL SUN 19 OCT

WHERE: RACV GOLDFIELDS RESORT, CRESWICK

Quilts, Wool, Use

 

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Discover the artistry and sustainability of waggas—quilts made from recycled materials during Australia’s settler, wartime, and Depression eras. This exhibition reimagines these humble creations as powerful symbols of resilience, memory, and working-class women’s untold stories.

RMIT researchers Ricarda Bigolin and Chantal Kirby (D and K) transform fashion into a platform for cultural critique through garments, performance, and film. Drawing on the National Wool Museum’s archive, they explore how materials carry histories and challenge how fashion is made and valued today.

WHEN: UNTIL SUN 2 NOV

WHERE: NATIONAL WOOL MUSEUM, GEELONG

Explore more arts events across the state here.