What we do
Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery (MPRG) is the largest public gallery in the South East region of Melbourne. We strive to make art accessible to everyone in our community. Entry to the Gallery is free.
We acknowledge and pay respect to the Bunurong people, the traditional custodians of these lands and waters.
Founded by leading art critic and historian Alan McCulloch, the Mornington Peninsula Arts Centre, as it was known, acquired its first artwork in 1970 and presented its first exhibitions in 1971. Initially based in a 1920s weatherboard house in Vancouver Street, Mornington, the Gallery moved to its current location at Civic Reserve in 1990.
Our seasonal exhibition program combines a mix of self-generated curatorial projects, local artist focus projects, collection-based and touring exhibitions. We develop a range of ambitious curatorial projects commissioning artists to make new work drawing on contemporary issues and the distinctive natural environment of the Mornington Peninsula. Our biennial National Works on Paper prize is one of the most prestigious awards and exhibitions in the country.
Over the past 50 years the MPRG Collection has grown to include over 2500 objects, including paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures. Renowned for its specialist holdings of contemporary Australian works on paper, we also hold important historical artworks that capture the cultural heritage of the Mornington Peninsula, which has been a haven and source of inspiration for many well-known artists. A new series of permanent collection rooms present highlights of the collection and give us the opportunity to activate our collection in fresh and unexpected ways.
We run an Artist in Residence (AiR) program at Police Point Shire Park in Portsea. The AiR program invites visual artists, cultural practitioners, curators, writers, musicians and researchers to participate in a residency to engage with the natural and human histories of the site, to explore challenging ideas, experiment, connect and collaborate.
We strive to inspire a curiosity about art from our very young creatives to our most mature and astute art lovers. We deliver a range of education and public programs for all ages, starting with our Young at Art program (0-5 year olds), through to primary and secondary school students, adults and our Art & Imagination program (for aged care residents). We present artist talks, creative workshops and exhibition tours both in person and online.
Our Gallery shop features a range of carefully curated items including showcasing the talents of our local makers as well as MPRG publications and products.
MPRG is the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s major cultural facility and we have a range of generous supporters. We are a member of the Public Galleries Association of Victoria.
For more information on how to support MPRG through partnerships, donations and bequests, please see our Support page.
* A number of initial exhibitions were presented in 1969 and 1970 prior to having a permanent gallery space.