culture
Geelong Exhibitions Define City's Evolving Creative Identity
A wave of new local shows and programs is sharpening how Geelong sees itself as a hub for makers and storytellers.
How we reported this
Geelong Gallery opened its new rotating show of regional artists last week on Little Malop Street, drawing 1,200 visitors in the first four days and spotlighting works made within 50 kilometres of the city.
The timing matters because Geelong recorded its strongest population growth in a decade last year, with newcomers settling in suburbs such as Geelong West and Newtown and looking for places that reflect their own creative interests rather than Melbourne imports.
Venues on Pakington Street and beyond
Two blocks away on Pakington Street, the Geelong Arts Centre launched a weekly makers market in its forecourt on 5 July that pairs local printmakers with textile artists from the National Wool Museum. The market runs every Saturday until 30 August and charges stallholders a flat $45 fee, keeping the focus on work produced in the region.
Further along Moorabool Street, the revived Geelong Library and Heritage Centre began screening short films by local directors on Thursday evenings, a program funded through a $68,000 state grant announced in March.
Attendance data released by the city council shows cultural venues across the municipality welcomed 482,000 visitors in the 2025 financial year, a 12 per cent rise from the previous period, with the biggest increases at sites that feature work by Geelong-based creators.
Next steps for residents
Tickets for the remaining film nights at the library cost $12 and can be booked online through the council website, while the Saturday market on Pakington Street remains free to enter. People wanting to exhibit next year should submit work samples to the Geelong Gallery by 15 September.