George Paton Gallery

We, at Arts Programs, would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which our events take place, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We acknowledge their elders past and present and pay our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in attendance. We would also like to acknowledge that this is stolen land and the sovereignty over this land was never ceded.

Established in the mid 1970s, The George Paton Gallery was the first institutionally supported experimental art space in Australia, and provided a model for Australia’s subsequent centres of contemporary art. The Gallery’s exhibition programs have forecast emerging trends in alternative practice, new and hybrid media, the phenomenon of the curator, and the return of painting.

Since 1994, the gallery has focused on student exhibitions, with many past and recent exhibitors finding success both in Australia and overseas. The George Paton Gallery provides a supportive environment for students, artists and curators to gain experience in exhibition practice.

In first semester 2021 Arts Programs presents a program of on-site exhibitions in the GEORGE PATON GALLERY; online CREATIVE WORKSHOPS, and the GPGvirtual exhibition site. All exhibitions and creative workshops are FREE to currently enrolled University of Melbourne students.

To keep in touch with our programs please sign up for our fortnightly e-news to see our online exhibitions, workshops and more.

Arts Programs is part of the UMSU department of Arts and Culture. Please see video below to find out what the Rowden White Library, Union House Theatre and Arts Programs have to offer students and Melbourne Uni.