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Photograph taken from the top of a staircase, looking down over a foyer with a wooden floor, white walls and arch way, and a decorative chandelier.
Photograph taken in the entrance to a gallery, showing the gallery sign reading 'Hammond Gallery' above. Inside is a wide space with paintings along the back wall, and two arches leading to recesses on each side.
Photograph of the front of a building, dark brick in colour with cream accents. The building is symmetrical, with a central arched entrance, decorative arched balcony, and pointed roof facing the viewer on either end.
Photograph of a stained glass window with a circular design and a side profile of Michael Angelo.
Black and white photograph of an art gallery space with the walls covered in classical paintings of various sizes. There is a sculpture of a woman on a plinth to the right, and a chair to the left in the foreground.

VAS Gallery

Richard Speight 1892

Description

The Victorian Artist Society (VAS) heritage listed building features an original bluestone studio opened in 1874 which has been almost totally subsumed by a modern two-storey gallery and façade built in the 1890s. It is regarded as one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in Melbourne, with iconic decorative mouldings, columns and a beautiful façade. While the façade of the building owes much to the American Romanesque tradition, the detailing of the interior is more Victorian in character. In recent years, the building has undergone major restoration and conservation works, led by architectural firm Chiri-Hall.

What's On

There will be five art galleries with exhibitions of artworks by Victorian artists. Shows include the Australian Association of Street Photographers, Zulu's Visual Tenacity and Nitel - an exhibition of First Nations Women Artists. The art studio will be open for visitors to access and observe art classes taking place. There will be sketching sessions running throughout the weekend that visitors can participate in.

Images: (1) VAS foyer. (2) Hammond Gallery entrance. (3) VAS facade. (4) VAS stained glass window. (5) Archival photograph of the VAS Inaugural Exhibition Hammond Gallery in 1982. (6) View of the studio with a class in action. All photos: courtesy of VAS.

Important Details

Time & Date

Saturday 29 + Sunday 30 July
Open access 11am-4pm

ACCESSIBILITY

Partially wheelchair accessible, Accessible bathroom, Accessible parking nearby, Elevator access

Location

VAS Gallery, 430 Albert St, East Melbourne 3002

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Acknowledgement of Country

Our programming exists on what always was and always will be the land of the people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, as well as to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the wider Melbourne community and beyond. Indigenous sovereignty has never been ceded in Australia and we are mindful of this in everything we do, given our focus on the modern built environment.

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Built By Efront

Our programming exists on what always was and always will be the land of the people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, as well as to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the wider Melbourne community and beyond. Indigenous sovereignty has never been ceded in Australia and we are mindful of this in everything we do, given our focus on the modern built environment.

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