The City of Greater Bendigo is excited to announce the opening of the 2025 Knuldoorong Art Exhibition this Friday July 4, featuring works from First Nations artists and creatives.
The annual Knuldoorong Art Exhibition is a major highlight of local NAIDOC Week (July 6 to 13) events, anchoring the start of celebrations across Bendigo.
This year's exhibition explores the NAIDOC theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy, through the talented cohort of First Nations artists exhibiting their artwork.
The theme is reflected in the artists themselves, with artists exhibiting at different stages in their careers and life's journey, from well-established Elders to first-time exhibitors and young First Nations artists. There is also a special showcase from the Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative kindergarten.
For the past nine years, the Knuldoorong Art Exhibition has been a cornerstone of NAIDOC Week celebrations, taking place in Dudley House.
Artworks will be available for purchase, although items will remain on display in Dudley House until the exhibition ends.
The City's Arts Officer First Nations and exhibition curator Michellie Charvat said this exhibition is a beautiful reflection of multiple generations of artists coming together.
"This year's Knuldoorong Art Exhibition showcases an outstanding collection of artworks created by incredibly talented artists, from right across Bendigo and beyond," Ms Charvat said.
"It was amazing to curate the exhibition with the intention that the NAIDOC theme is embodied through the artists themselves, offering a subtle theme of The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy.
"Each artwork reflects the culture and identity of the artist, deepening the connection to NAIDOC, community, and First Nations individuals.
"It was also a special exhibition for me to curate personally as this is where my career as an artist and curator began years ago, so to support and encourage young artists to exhibit their work for the first time in this exhibition is really special."
The Knuldoorong Art Exhibition will be open to the public from Friday July 4 to Sunday July 13.
The exhibition is free to attend and will be open daily from 11am to 4pm.
