About Us

The Bright Art Gallery & Cultural Centre acknowledges the Dhudhuroa, Taungurung & Waywurru people, the original custodians of these lands. These people of the rivers and mountains have walked these lands for thousands of years, and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging. 

The Bright Art Gallery & Cultural Centre is a community owned gallery situated in the beautiful Alpine Shire town of Bright, Victoria. Established in 1962, the Bright Art Gallery is largely self-funded and run entirely by volunteers, without any paid employees. The managing committee is elected annually by the members of the gallery. In 2025 the gallery incorporates around 400 members, half of these are artists, known as the ‘Alpine Artists’ and around 60 Youth members. A volunteer committee of 15 manages and overseas all facets of running the gallery. 

The objective of the Bright Art Gallery and Cultural Centre is to provide a varied program of diverse art exhibitions, workshops and cultural experiences. The gallery consists of two large exhibition spaces downstairs, a beautiful upstairs gallery, a foyer with shop area attached and a workshop area with kitchen. 

At present the gallery has four exhibition periods per year: 

The Autumn Art Exhibition, which has been running every year since 1962. The Autumn Art Exhibition runs for about 6 weeks and attracts noted artists from all over southeast Australia, it is open to all artists to enter artworks. It offers an acquisitive prize of $5000 to the best in show and further substantial prizes for best Oil, Acrylic, Watercolour, Pastel, Mixed/Other Medium, Work in Monochrome, Small Painting and Scene within Alpine Shire. 

The Winter Exhibitions are on during the Victorian school holidays with varying exhibitions, this could be a solo exhibition, as well as an ‘Alpine Artists’ exhibition and an exhibition of select works from the Gallery’s extensive Permanent Collection of around 400 art works. 

The Spring Exhibitions run from late September to early November for a period of 6 weeks. Usually there are three simultaneous exhibitions, including an ‘Alpine Artist’ exhibition and one or two solo or group exhibitions. 

The Summer ART Awards exhibition runs from end of November to end of January. This is open exclusively to the Alpine Artists (artist members of the gallery) and the Youth Members of the Gallery. There is an acquisitive prize, oil & acrylic, pastel & watercolour, mixed/other medium, photography, sculptural, glass, ceramic and 2 youth prizes. 

For about 10 days in November the entire gallery is occupied by the Bright P-12 School Students Exhibition. An amazing display of creations by the local school, organised by their dedicated teachers. 

In addition to the exhibitions the gallery holds regular musical performances. It is the base for weekly choir practice sessions by the Bright Singers, using the beautiful Grand Piano. And weekly art workshops on Tuesday mornings, plus other one off art workshops through the year. 

All funds raised throughout the year with exhibitions and donations go back into the gallery with constant improvements, such as gallery lighting, hanging systems, renovations, acquiring a grand piano, etc. 

The Bright Art Gallery & Cultural Centre acknowledges the Dhudhuroa, Taungurung & Waywurru people, the original custodians of these lands. These people of the rivers and mountains have walked these lands for thousands of years, and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging. 

The Bright Art Gallery & Cultural Centre is a community owned gallery situated in the beautiful Alpine Shire town of Bright, Victoria. Established in 1962, the Bright Art Gallery is largely self-funded and run entirely by volunteers, without any paid employees. The managing committee is elected annually by the members of the gallery. In 2025 the gallery incorporates around 400 members, half of these are artists, known as the ‘Alpine Artists’ and around 60 Youth members. A volunteer committee of 15 manages and overseas all facets of running the gallery. 

The objective of the Bright Art Gallery and Cultural Centre is to provide a varied program of diverse art exhibitions, workshops and cultural experiences. The gallery consists of two large exhibition spaces downstairs, a beautiful upstairs gallery, a foyer with shop area attached and a workshop area with kitchen. 

At present the gallery has four exhibition periods per year: 

The Autumn Art Exhibition, which has been running every year since 1962. The Autumn Art Exhibition runs for about 6 weeks and attracts noted artists from all over southeast Australia, it is open to all artists to enter artworks. It offers an acquisitive prize of $5000 to the best in show and further substantial prizes for best Oil, Acrylic, Watercolour, Pastel, Mixed/Other Medium, Work in Monochrome, Small Painting and Scene within Alpine Shire. 

The Winter Exhibitions are on during the Victorian school holidays with varying exhibitions, this could be a solo exhibition, as well as an ‘Alpine Artists’ exhibition and an exhibition of select works from the Gallery’s extensive Permanent Collection of around 400 art works. 

The Spring Exhibitions run from late September to early November for a period of 6 weeks. Usually there are three simultaneous exhibitions, including an ‘Alpine Artist’ exhibition and one or two solo or group exhibitions. 

The Summer ART Awards exhibition runs from end of November to end of January. This is open exclusively to the Alpine Artists (artist members of the gallery) and the Youth Members of the Gallery. There is an acquisitive prize, oil & acrylic, pastel & watercolour, mixed/other medium, photography, sculptural, glass, ceramic and 2 youth prizes. 

For about 10 days in November the entire gallery is occupied by the Bright P-12 School Students Exhibition. An amazing display of creations by the local school, organised by their dedicated teachers. 

In addition to the exhibitions the gallery holds regular musical performances. It is the base for weekly choir practice sessions by the Bright Singers, using the beautiful Grand Piano. And weekly art workshops on Tuesday mornings, plus other one off art workshops through the year.