PrintHistory
The Maroondah Art Gallery is located at Maroondah Federation Estate. Regular exhibitions feature both historical and contemporary artworks while showcasing artworks of local, national and international significance.
Established in 2001, Maroondah Art Gallery is owned and operated by Maroondah City Council and was created as part of Council’s long-term cultural development strategy. In conjunction with Maroondah Federation Estate, the Gallery is located in the heritage-listed site of the former Ringwood Primary School No 2997. Significantly, the Gallery is now situated in what many former students of Ringwood Primary School remember as the art rooms. In building on this site, Maroondah City Council is proud to expand the usage of this historic environment, carrying a long-standing tradition of art education into the 21st century.
With the opening of the Gallery, the two principal exhibition spaces were named in honour of prominent local residents, celebrating their outstanding contributions to the cultural life of the region. The Muriel McGivern Room, which is the larger of the two exhibition halls, was named in honour of Muriel McGivern, for both her ongoing community work and as founder and benefactor of the $10,000.00 R & M McGivern Art Prize. This acquisitive prize is held on a triennial basis and aims to encourage painting in all mediums, with the winning work being retained in the Maroondah City Council Art Collection. Adjoining the main space is the J. A. Turner Room, named in honour of well-known colonial painter James Alfred Turner (1850 – 1908). As a resident of Kilsyth, Turner was a celebrated artist of the colonial era, recording numerous images of the local district during its founding years. His painting Their Little Home, 1894 is now housed in the Maroondah City Council Art Collection.
Since opening in 2001, the Maroondah Art Gallery has implemented an impressive exhibitions program, featuring works of both contemporary and historical significance. Past exhibitions have included ‘Master Printmakers’ a survey exhibition of old master prints, featuring works by Rembrandt, Goya, Daumier and others, whilst in recent years the Gallery has exhibited works by leading Australian artists such as Archibald prize winner Cherry Hood. Recent exhibitions have included surveys of Indigenous art as well as exhibitions of contemporary Australian jewellery, fashion and photography. In 2008 the Gallery continues to present exhibitions by well-known contemporary artists, including a survey exhibition of paintings and photographs by renowned performance artist Jill Orr.