Maitland Regional Art Gallery facts for kids
The Maitland Regional Art Gallery, often called MRAG, is a cool place to see art in Maitland, Australia. It's a public art museum where everyone can come and enjoy amazing artworks.
The Gallery's Journey: A Look Back
The story of MRAG began in 1957. That's when the Maitland City Council started buying art. These first artworks became the very beginning of the gallery's huge collection.
In 1975, the first official art gallery opened. It was located in a building called Brough House on Church Street in Maitland.
Later, in November 2003, MRAG moved to its current home. This building is on High Street in Maitland. It's a beautiful old building with a special style called Federation gothic. Before it was an art gallery, it was the Maitland Technical College, opening way back in 1910.
The gallery closed for a big update in 2008. It reopened on August 15, 2009. A famous Australian artist named Margaret Olley helped open it again.
Amazing Art at MRAG
MRAG has a really big collection of art. There are more than 6,000 items! These include different kinds of art, designs, and historical objects. Many of the artworks are "works on paper," like drawings or prints.
You can find art by many well-known Australian artists here. Some of these famous artists include John Coburn, William Dobell, Margaret Olley, Charles Blackman, Brett Whiteley, and Sidney Nolan. You might also see works by John Olsen, Judy Watson, and Gloria Petyarre. It's a great chance to see art from some of Australia's best creators!
