Summer the time for art

IT’S that time of year when Golden Plains artists have their chance to submit work into the Golden Spaces 2026 Summer Exhibition.

The exhibition is a free program presented across the Bannockburn Cultural Centre, The Well at Smythesdale and the Golden Plains Civic Centre.

Golden Spaces promotes artists from the shire and surrounding regions, boosts access to the arts for residents and offers emerging and established creatives professional development opportunities.

Golden Plains Shire mayor Cr Owen Sharkey lauded the program and the possibilities it had offered artists throughout the region.

“Golden Spaces began as a pilot program in 2023, answering a call from our creative community for free and accessible exhibition programs and spaces in our shire,” Cr Sharkey said.

“Fast forward to now, the 2026 Golden Spaces Summer Exhibition marks the seventh exhibition in the series. Each year, Golden Spaces has shown over 40 artists and an incredible 60 artworks per year.

“The remarkable talent we have in our shire and in surrounding regions is evident with each exhibition, and I have no doubt the 2026 Summer Exhibition will be no different. I encourage our artistic community to apply and help make this the biggest exhibition yet.”

Expressions of interest are now open until 5pm, Monday 31 August. They can be completed at goldenplains.vic.gov.au/golden-spaces

Successful artists will be notified. The exhibition will be launched at the Twilight Market in December.

More information from the council’s arts, cultural and heritage team can be sought via [email protected] or by phoning 5220 7111.

The summer exhibition will be the seventh in the series. The 2025 edition is on display now at The Well. This year’s winter exhibition is now showing at Bannockburn Cultural Centre.