Ararat Gallery TAMA Welcomes Growth In Visitors As Programs Flourish
Ararat Rural City Council is celebrating strong growth in attendance at Ararat Gallery TAMA, with visitation returning to pre‑COVID‑19 levels across exhibitions, programs, and events.
In the 2025/26 financial year, Ararat Gallery TAMA recorded 7,688 visitors, representing a 5.82 percent increase on 2024/25. School holiday programs have broken attendance records, with other offerings including Life Drawing classes, Analog Art Club sessions, and artist talks consistently reaching capacity.
The most popular exhibitions were neck and neck, with Works from the TAMA Collection, JamFactory ICON Aunty Ellen Trevorrow, and Kait James: Red Flags being the most visited drawcards.
The gallery has also welcomed 228 school group attendees in 2025/26, a 60 percent increase that reflects growing engagement with local and regional schools. School visitors included Marian College, Ararat College, Beaufort Secondary, Lake Bolac College, St Patrick's College in Ballarat and Ararat West Primary School.
Mayor Cr Bob Sanders said the gallery’s success highlights the important role Ararat Gallery TAMA plays in the cultural life of the municipality. “Ararat Gallery TAMA is a brilliant facility for our community,” Mayor Sanders said. “We have managed to blend our beautiful heritage Town Hall architecture with a modern gallery space that is an absolute credit to the Ararat region. When you walk through the doors, you can see that this is a gallery that is attracting people back in strong numbers and offering experiences that keep them coming back.”
“This lift in attendance tells us that families, schools, and visitors are looking for quality arts experiences close to home. It backs in the work of our staff and volunteers, and it shows that regional galleries like TAMA can stand confidently on the national stage.”
Visual Arts Coordinator at Ararat Gallery TAMA, Katy Mitchell, said the team is delighted to see programs resonating with audiences.
“We are thrilled by this growth in visitation,” Ms Mitchell said. “It is a reflection of a gallery that punches far above its weight, with programs that appeal to children, young people, and adults alike. When our school holiday activities, Life Drawing classes, Analog Art Club, and artist talks are all filling up, it tells us that our community feels welcome here and wants to be part of what the gallery offers.”
Ms Mitchell said increased school group attendance is a particularly pleasing trend, helping to build the next generation of arts‑engaged young people across Ararat Rural City.
Council encourages residents and visitors to explore upcoming exhibitions and programs at Ararat Gallery TAMA throughout the year.
