Arts & Culture

Geelong is Australia’s only UNESCO City of Design – global recognition of the area’s industrial past and design-driven future.

The city’s cultural heart beats in and around Little Malop Street and creativity flows right throughout the broader region – art, music and architecture are celebrated.

Brand new and sparkling, the city has recently unveiled the jewel in its crown – the Geelong Arts Centre. This architectural masterpiece is a wonderful place to catch a show, musical or play; or enjoy a comedy act or orchestra performance. Make sure you leave time to walk around and admire all corners of this state-of-the-art building – the interior of each room is more thought-provoking than the last with each level representing a different First Nations reference to Country.

Wadawurrung Traditional Owners and First Nations artists have woven traditional stories of the land throughout the layers of the building. You’ll see artistic expressions of water and sky, and the colours and textures of Moonah trees, ochre and granite stone. It’s something that has to be seen to truly experience.

Geelong Gallery is housed within a stately Neoclassical-style building. Established in 1896, it’s one of the country’s oldest regional galleries, with a vast collection of nationally significant works both contemporary and historical. Prized are Frederick McCubbin’s 1890 painting A Bush Burial, and Eugene von Guérard’s 1856 work View of Geelong.

Platform Arts run exhibitions, performances and live music at the Old Courthouse building.

On buzzing Pakington Street (aka Pako), Boom Gallery exhibits original contemporary art that evolves and changes monthly.

At The Hive in Ocean Grove you'll find art, ceramics and handcrafted furniture from established and emerging artists – many from the region. Downstairs, the bronze sculptures at Willie Wildlife Sculptures have become treasured pieces across the globe, featured in the Singapore Botanic Gardens and England’s Royal Horticultural Society Garden.

Queenscliff’s Salt Contemporary Art exhibits Australian painters, sculptors and ceramicists. It’s a beautiful space set across two levels of an old drapery store on historical Hesse Street.

Look to the streets, to the walls, to the paths, Geelong is absolutely bursting with public art. Statues, murals and art installations have been created by talented artists and placed across this great city. And the best part… they are all free to admire. So, pop on your walking shoes, take to the streets and check out the vibrant public artworks of Geelong.

Geelong has its very own app to guide you to the region’s art studios, galleries, heritage buildings and performing arts locations. It will also direct you to Indigenous sites of significance, street art and sculptures. Download the Geelong Arts & Culture Trail App.

More than 100 bollards dotted along Geelong’s waterfront form the Bollard Trail. Artist Jan Mitchell transformed old pier timbers into bright works of art representing characters from Geelong’s history.

Stroll past the Botanic Gardens, Royal Geelong Yacht Club, Steampacket Gardens and Cunningham Pier, walking time is approximately 2 hours one way.

Greater Geelong loves a good gig and you'll find live music at many of the pubs and bars in the area.

Blockbuster concerts for seriously big international and Australian acts also feature on the calendar at venues including Mt Duneed Estate, Leura Park Estate, The Sphinx, and Eureka Hotel.

Header image credit: Peter Foster