Top Things to do in Canberra
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Things to do in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: The Best Art Museums
You can fit a lot into a visit to Australia’s capital city. Surrounded by nature parks, Canberra is best known for a vast collection of history and culture that provides a snapshot of the nation. Discover precincts housing, thriving local arts and foodie scenes, family friendly attractions, outdoor experiences and the acclaimed cool-climate wineries that dot the surrounding area.
Restaurants in Canberra
1. National Gallery of Australia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,314 reviews
The NGA is home to Australia's national collection of visual arts. The national collection includes 170,000 iconic and highly celebrated works of art spanning four main areas: Australian art, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, Asian art, and European and American art.
Reviewed By H5458EUbrianm - Oxford, United Kingdom
This is a very good museum with a splendid collection of aboriginal arts. There is also a good selection of international artists such as Jackson Pollock, Bridget Riley (three pictures) , Andy Warhol, Roy Liechtenstein and Gorges Seurat amongst others. One of the two Pollocks is reputed to his masterpiece. However, the museum suffers from not having at least some pictures by great modern artists such as Francis Bacon, and Pablo Picasso Nonetheless, it doe have a great collection of ceramics.as well as Aboriginal pictures. There is a cafeteria and a shop.
2. National Portrait Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,793 reviews
The purpose of the National Portrait Gallery is to increase the understanding and appreciation of the Australian people – our identity, history, culture, creativity and diversity – through portraiture. We have gallery spaces for the collection and temporary exhibitions, a cafe, shop, function rooms, a theatrette, education areas and basement car parking.
Reviewed By marceld991 - Canberra, Australia
As a Canberra native who often visits the national cultural institutions located here, I would advise visitors to fit in a visit to the National Portrait Gallery if they can. It's a smaller collection, and a smaller venue, than the NGA or War Memorial; but the collection is full of interest and more diverse than you might think -portraiture is interpreted broadly. The NPG is well designed, with a human scale and user-friendly gallery spaces. The cafe is very good and the book shop and gift shop really excellent, offering a very wide range of titles and items. The covid arrangements are well thought out and don't affect the visitor experience.
3. Canberra Contemporary Art Space
4. Drill Hall Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
The Drill Hall Gallery provides the Canberra community and Australian National University with a selective program of high quality exhibitions of Australian and international art. The Gallery supports the arts in the Canberra region by presenting exhibitions developed in conjunction with the Australian National University’s wide-ranging academic interests and or to coincide with major conferences and public events. National and international exhibitions – and works from the University’s own extensive collection – are features of the Gallery’s program. Sidney Nolan’s 9-panel panorama, 'Riverbend' (recently nominated among the ten must-see art treasures of Canberra) is on permanent display in the RIVERBEND ROOM. The Drill Hall Gallery closes over the Christmas period, with exact closure dates varying each year. The Gallery will close on December 16 2018 and will reopen on February 21 2019.
5. Burrunju Art Gallery
6. Canberra Museum and Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 150 reviews
A vibrant place in the heart of the city, Canberra Museum and Gallery celebrates the region's social history and visual arts with dynamic exhibitions and unique community programs and events.
Reviewed By pablo02061959 - Sydney, Australia
The Canberra Museum is a fine little museum, near the centre of the city. It focuses very much on local Canberra matters and does a good job of it. On our recent visit here, there was an exhibition of the protest movement, which was most interesting. This museum also houses a collection of Sidney Nolan paintings, including his Ned Kelly series (sadly, closed when we were here). This is a good place to visit if you have a hour or 2 up your sleeve.
7. Belconnen Arts Centre Inc
8. Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 3 reviews
Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre is a not-for-profit membership based organisation which supports artists, craft practitioners, designers and makers at every stage of their careers. We promote and celebrate excellence and innovation in contemporary craft in everything we do – in our retail space, exhibitions, events and membership program.
Reviewed By AlexG91AU - Adelaide, Australia
Craft ACT - Craft & Design Centre is a not-for-profit organisation showcasing some of Australia's best designers, craft practitioners and artists. The space consists of a gallery and shop on the upper level of the North Building on London Circuit in Canberra's City Centre and directly above the Canberra Museum and Gallery. Exhibitions swap over regularly making it worth visiting multiple times a year with great variation in the exhibited artists & designers. There are also a range of artists talks and events regularly held in the gallery. Craft ACT is a hidden gem in amongst Canberra's larger national galleries and museums.
