Tarrawarra Museum of Art unveils new KTA-designed cultural hub

The Tarrawarra Museum of Art, located in Melbourne's Yarra Valley, has unveiled plans for a new cultural hub set to open in March 2025. The project has been designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA) in collaboration with landscape architect Oculus, and Wurundjeri horticulturalist and artist Craig Murphy-Wandin.

Named in honour of the museum's founding patrons, Eva and Marc Besen, who donated over 600 artworks to establish the permanent collection, the new centre will join a collection of architecturally-significant structures on the site, including KTA's own cellar door, completed in 2016.

Situated adjacent to the existing museum designed by Allan Powell, the new 2,200-square-metre Eva and Marc Besen Centre will house more than 300 of the museum's works along 64 art storage racks. The centre's 46-metre secure glass wall will allow the public to view a curation of these stored works year-round.

Kerstin Thompson, director of KTA, described this gesture as an innovative approach to revealing the museum's treasures. "Back of house is now front of house for everyone to enjoy," she said.

Thompson noted that the architectural concept for the centre was driven by the museum's commitment to "fostering artistic exploration, cultural enrichment and intellectual engagement." The centre's flexible and adaptable spaces are designed to host a diverse range of activities for all ages, including exhibitions, educational workshops, talks, lectures, performances, classical music concerts and live arts events, accommodating gatherings of up to 200 attendees.

The Eva and Marc Besen Centre will connect to the museum via a new sculpture walk, which will feature sculptures from the museum's permanent collection by artists Clement Meadmore, Lenton Parr, Robert Klippel and Antony Gormley.

Oculus associate director Claire Martin said that the approach to landscape design "was underpinned by a desire to create a dramatic arrival and entry experience, through a sequence of framed views through, to and beyond the sculptural wall."

"The design acknowledges and looks to celebrate the site's rich Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung culture, broader landscapes and the resilience of natural systems," she said.

The new centre is set to open 8 March 2025 and will be joined by a weekend program of activities. Throughout the month, the Tarrawarra Museum of Art will host behind-the-scenes tours of the new centre.