The best free museums and art galleries in Melbourne
Take a cultural tour of Melbourne’s world-class museums, edgy artist-run spaces and blockbuster exhibitions. All without spending a cent!
NGV International
Old and new, beautiful and challenging, NGV International brings a world of art to Melbourne. The city’s premier art gallery has an ever-changing slew of free exhibits to peruse. See powerful, contemporary art, design and architecture at NGV Triennial. Explore homegrown art and exhibitions at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV. Current exhibition, Wurrdha Marra features art and design from First Nations peoples across time and place. Focusing on the importance of passing down cultural knowledge and also creating new forms of expression.
ACMI
From films to video games, ACMI celebrates screen culture past and present. Get behind the camera at ACMI’s free exhibition, The Story of the Moving Image. From the birth of film to today’s digital wonders, there’s more than a century of movie history to explore. And you can get hands-on at this fun cinema showcase, with animation and sound effects to play with.
Tolarno Galleries
For a small gallery, Tolarno sure has hosted some big names in art. Step inside this hidden space to see incredible exhibitions of contemporary art and design. The early days saw the likes of Picasso, Bonnard and Matisse gracing the walls of the gallery. More recently, art lovers admired works by legendary Aussie artist Patricia Piccinini. Whoever is showing, you're bound to see something special.
Art and Heritage Collection Tour
See a Foster's beer tower from the good old days, retro Moomba Monarch crowns and a bottle of spumante dating back to who knows when. For the first time ever, City of Melbourne's Art and Heritage Collection is opening its doors to the public for free guided tours. This is your chance to access to some of Melbourne’s most weird and wonderful treasures and historical archives.
Australian Music Vault
If you’re musically inclined, the Australian Music Vault is a must. It’s a great overview of Melbourne’s backstage sounds and stories. Watch rare footage and see iconic objects like Kylie Minogue’s stage outfits and notebooks belonging to Nick Cave. The free exhibition is permanently on show at Arts Centre Melbourne.
City Gallery
The City Gallery presents free, quarterly exhibitions on city life; past and present. Pop in to the gallery at Melbourne Town Hall to see Elements of the city's collection, an eclectic range of 8000 artworks and artefacts.
Science Gallery Melbourne
Deep dive into the unseen and the unknown at Dark Matters. The exhibition explores the fundamental essence of life and the universe. Focusing on language, light and technology. Melbourne's one and only Science Gallery is home to some of the most unusual art installations in town. With an aim to get young people excited about science. Their exhibitions are always evolving, keep your eyes peeled for the next one that pops up.
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA)
From music to educational talks, screenings and more the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) will have you coming back again and again. Spot the iconic rust-red building along Southbank and head in to explore local and international art. Keep an eye out for pop-up events and teachings.
Victoria Police Museum
Explore the state's crime history at this free museum in Docklands. History buffs will be amazed by Australia's largest collection of Kelly Gang armour. Dig through major investigations and learn how animals have served in the police force all the way back to the 1960s.
Melbourne's best small, independent and artist-run galleries
Flinders Lane Gallery
Exhibiting collectable artworks and featuring solo exhibitions every three weeks.
West End Art Space
A contemporary art gallery with a focus on living artists that strive for excellence.
Kings Artist-Run Initiative
Space for contemporary art practice and gallery showcasing experimental projects.
Neon Parc
Commercial art gallery exhibiting a diverse range of contemporary art throughout the year.
Anna Schwartz Gallery
The gallery represents over 30 established and emerging artists on individual projects.
More free museums
Victoria Police Museum
Explore the social history of policing through interactive displays and over 300 collection items.
Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre
A place of inspiration and vitality, that promotes the spirit and charism of Saint Mary MacKillop.
Medical History Museum
A free museum focusing on medicine's contribution to scientific discovery and community wellbeing.
The best free exhibitions
La Dolce Vita: Italian Light and Life by Anthony Bowles
An exhibition of watercolours and oils featuring Italian scenes.
Open House Melbourne Weekend
Explore more than 150 buildings, places and spaces, and be inspired about the future of our city.
Slow Walker
Walk alongside some of the most resilient creatures in the universe. Contemplate. Linger.
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Constellations
A celestial formation hovers above its own reflection on the Yarra River/Birrarung's surface.
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Present Shock II
When we’re confronted with a cacophony of data on a daily basis, how do we decipher what’s true?
Ancient Egypt for Kids
A free exhibition for kids with objects, hands-on activities, and cinematic screenings.
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Finding Pathways to Temahahoi
A multimedia installation of video works, performance, and bespoke ceramic instruments.
Christopher Langton: Afterglow
An installation of strange and seductive figures from pop sculptor and installation artist Langton.
Honk: Untitled Goose Exhibition
Explore the cheeky world of the iconic game with playable displays and behind-the-scenes insights.
Future Remains: The 2024 Macfarlane Commissions
This partnership supports ambitious new projects by emerging to mid-career artists.
Memo Akten: Distributed Consciousness
A digital work merging human and non-human consciousness – via the AI musings of octopus critters.
The Twenty Melbourne Painters Society Annual Exhibition
VAS Gallery welcomes the society for their 106th Annual Exhibition, Return to Albert Street.
Artist Talk with Georgie Brooks: The Art of Storytelling
The Melbourne-based jeweller discusses storytelling in artistic practice.
Hugh D.T. Williamson Lecture
Join Dr. Paola Balla and Paola Morabito to learn about their collaboration on Mok Mok Murrup Yakuwa.
Friday Night Social: Sui Zhen
Science Gallery Melbourne stays up late for a free party during Now or Never.
Trenches to Runway: Military Influences on Popular Fashion
Explore the enduring influence of military design on popular fashion.
Angelina Mirabito: Elastic Heart
A series of abstract paintings inspired by keywords in the lyrics to Sia's song Elastic Heart.
Fortyfivedownstairs: Emerging Artist Award
Fortyfivedownstairs presents the ninth annual Emerging Artist Award 2024.
Friday Night Social: Student Edition
Explore the latest exhibition against a backdrop of immersive performance acts and live DJ sets.
Gotcha! Concrete Prints from the McEwans Celebrity Pavement
An exhibition presenting 40 celebrity hand- and footprints from the 1970s to 1990s.
Bridget Hillebrand: The Weight of Water
A solo show by artist Bridget Hillebrand, winner of the 2023 Exploration Emerging Artist Award.
Small Tales 3: A Mass Launch of Autobiographical Zines
A project engaging 15 artists to each create a small autobiographical publication.
Melbourne's Annual Wedding Expo: Showgrounds
Browse over 120 creative and popular wedding suppliers and vendors at the Melbourne Showgrounds.
Richard Blackwell: Plural
A new iteration of Richard Blackwell's interdisciplinary objects, marks, observations and processes.
Ikebana Exhibition by Azumi: Walking into Blue
Discover Japanese floral artistry and immerse yourself in the timeless art of Ikebana.
Friday Night Social: Asia TOPA
Experience the possibilities of art and science after dark with a mind-expanding celebration.
Two Views: Landscape Paintings by Rob Hall and Jason Jones
An exhibition by two Central Victorian landscape painters in a West Melbourne gallery with bar/cafe.
The Story of the Moving Image
An ongoing exhibition that journeys through the past, present and future of the moving image.
Last updated on Thu 9 May 2024
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