On the Local Arts Trail in July 2026
— with Alison Desmond —
Winter has arrived in Moorabool but there still are plenty of artistic treasures to find if you venture out for a look around.
Bacchus Marsh Rotary Art Show
The 54th annual Rotary Art Show returned to Bacchus Marsh Public Hall on the King’s Birthday long weekend.
Jo Reitze (pictured left) won best oil painting with a clever composition and colourful garden view of plants and flowers, titled Cloudehill.
Ri Van Veen won best sculpture and student prizes went to Ariana Kelly and Peter Clark - congratulations to the winners.
The works were judged by Dr Shelley McSpedden, senior curator and head of exhibitions at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA).
BMAC
BMAC members have been busy with basketry and weaving on display at Lerderderg Library, Bacchus Marsh.
The works are super-creative, using sticks, twigs, natural fibres and found objects to create organic forms, wall hangings and free-standing sculpture.
Ballan Art Space
Phantasy: Dreams in Transit, showed just how broadly a theme can be interpreted by different members of the group.
Lili Eggleston’s Fantasy Castle in the Sky is more suggestive than concrete, faintly delineating a staircase leading to a castle, atmospheric and floating with a grainy textured finish
The new exhibition, with interpretations on the theme Veins of the Earth, runs from July 2 to August 9.
Ballan Art Space is open 10am to 3pm Thursday to Sunday.
Flack Post and Telegraph Office
Flack will be closed in July for the winter break but will open for Mysteries Lost in History’s Paranormal Exploration from 7 to 9 pm on July 10.
Find out more about the event.
Flack PTO will reopen in August, 11am to 2pm Friday and Sunday, and from 10am to 3pm on Saturdays
Meditative Art Workshop
Get inspired and create something beautiful in this guided meditative workshop at St Martin’s Chapel from 2pm to 3.30pm on July 5.
Meditative Art is about the process rather than the outcome. Through simple guided activities, you'll have the chance to relax, explore your creativity, and enjoy making art in a welcoming and supportive environment. No experience required. All welcome.
Oak Grove Gallery, Ballan
Marty Cleal paints landscapes and seascapes inspired by the style and colours of the Australian Impressionist painters.
For Moorabool’s best views drop in and see Marty at the restored Ballan News building.
Gordon Bar Room Gallery
Gordon’s artist collective make high-quality artwork which are very reasonably priced, from ceramics, printmaking, painting, jewellery, textiles, cards and more.
Gordons Bar Room Bar Room Gallery is open 10am to 2pm Saturdays
MAPP Up in Lights, Bacchus Marsh
The natural light is breathtaking in Justin Nemeth’s photography exhibition, showing in both MAPP Galleries until the the end of June.
“The series contrasts untouched natural environments with agriculture, infrastructure and the communities shaped by the land,” said Justin.
Photographs were taken at Lerderderg State Forest, Werribee Gorge and Bostock Reservoir.
Public and Community Arts
Moorabool Shire has an amazing collection of public art, from markers of place in bush settings, to Ballan’s cosily yarn-bombed Inglis Street, to eye-catching paste-ups in the townships.
You can find out more about Moorabool’s public art pieces at the Moorbool Shire website
About On the Local Arts Trail
The Local Arts Trail column is released through our monthly eNewsletter and on this website at the start of each month.
If you have an arts-related exhibition or event you’d like to let us know about, you can use our Submit an Event form.
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