Victorian Artists Society

Victorian Artists Society offers a broad look at contemporary and traditional art in a historic Melbourne setting. Its five galleries stage more than 50 exhibitions each year, with new artworks arriving roughly every two weeks, so there is usually something changing on the walls. Exhibitions and events include member showcases, artist talks and demonstrations, with works available for sale both at the galleries and through the VAS online gallery.

The society’s online collection gives visitors another way to explore its members’ work, spanning painting, drawing, printmaking, digital art and sculpture. The catalogue includes a wide range of genres and mediums, from impressionism, realism and abstraction to oil, watercolour, acrylic, charcoal, collage and ceramics. It also provides filters by colour, orientation, genre, medium and price, making it useful for browsing whether you are looking to buy or simply want to see what local artists are producing.

At 430 Albert Street in East Melbourne, the venue occupies a heritage-listed building with a long connection to Australian art. The society was established in 1870 by early impressionist painters, and its history includes artists such as Arthur Streeton, Charles Conder, William Frater and Frederick McCubbin. The building contains the Frater, McCubbin and Hammond galleries upstairs, as well as the Cato Gallery, Foyer Gallery and Mackley Members Room downstairs. The upper galleries retain heritage details and four-metre ceilings, while the Cato Gallery is a smaller, naturally lit space suited to solo or small-group exhibitions.

Entry to the public galleries is free, with visits available during the listed weekday and weekend hours. The venue suits a solo art wander, a relaxed cultural outing or a group visiting an exhibition together. It also has an active membership and education side, including art classes and workshops, and the spaces can be hired for exhibitions, functions and events. For visitors who want more than a quick gallery stop, the society’s long history, rotating programme and mix of physical and online viewing make it a useful place to return to.