Museums & Galleries Queensland

25/05/2026

Last chance to see ‘Billy Missi’n Wakain Thamai,’ closing this Sunday 31 May at Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery, TAS!

‘Billy Missi’n Wakain Thamai’ brings together over fifty of the artist’s most significant and iconic prints, including rare and never-before-exhibited monoprints, etchings, and linoprints from Djumbunji Fine Art Press and private collections. Curated by Dr Russell Milledge, this retrospective was developed in close consultation with the Billy Missi Estate, family members and friends, highlighting Missi’s critical role in the emergence of Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) printmaking as a contemporary art form.

‘Billy Missi'n Wakain Thamai’ is an exhibition developed by NorthSite Contemporary Arts (Gimuy/Cairns) and touring Australia in partnership with Gab Titui Cultural Centre/Torres Strait Regional Authority (Waiben/Thursday Island) and Museums & Galleries Queensland. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government's Visions of Australia program.

Installation view ’Billy Missi’n Wakain Thamai,’ NorthSite Contemporary Arts, Bulmba-Ja Cairns, QLD, 2020. Photographer Michael Marzik. Courtesy of NorthSite Contemporary Arts.







australia

21/05/2026

‘How Soon Is Now?’ by Bruce Reynolds opens this Friday 22 May at Caloundra Regional Gallery, QLD. This is the final venue in the exhibition’s national tour, closing on 28 June!

🎉 Opening Event: Thursday 21 May, 6-8pm

⭐️ Artist Talk: Friday 22 May, 10-11am

Paperworks Collage Workshop: Friday 22 May, 12:30-3:30pm

Pressing Matters Workshop: 23 May, 10:30am-1:30pm

‘How Soon is Now?’ brings together a selection of Bruce Reynolds’ exquisite cast relief works with two-dimensional collaged linoleum works, to celebrate a physicality that is frequently overlooked in today’s growing digital environment.

‘How Soon is Now?’ is a Museums & Galleries Queensland touring exhibition presented in partnership with the artist, Bruce Reynolds. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government’s Visions of Australia program; and is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

‘How Soon is Now?’ installation view, Redcliffe Art Gallery, 2026. Photo: Louis Lim. Courtesy of Redcliffe Art Gallery.


.australia

19/05/2026

🌟 National Volunteer Week | 18–24 May 🌟

This National Volunteer Week, we proudly celebrate the incredible volunteers who are the heart of Queensland’s museum and gallery sector.

Across the state, more than 15,000 volunteers generously contribute their time, skills, and passion to our museums and galleries. It's an extraordinary contribution valued at an estimated $22 million. From welcoming visitors and caring for collections to sharing stories and supporting programs, their dedication helps keep Queensland’s heritage, culture, and stories accessible to all.

To every volunteer who contributes to our sector, a HUGE thank you. 🙏 🩷

Your commitment is highly valued and has a lasting impact in our communities.

Photo: participants of M&G QLD's 2024 Standards Review Program, by Madeleine Green, courtesy of M&G QLD. Taken on the steps of Miegunyah House Museum .

Arts Queensland Australian Museums and Galleries Association Queensland Public Galleries Queensland

18/05/2026

🎉 Happy International Museums Day! 🎉

Today, we’re celebrating the incredible work of museums and galleries across Queensland and beyond, preserving stories, sparking curiosity, inspiring creativity, and connecting communities.

To mark the occasion, the Museums & Galleries Queensland team had the pleasure of visiting QM Loans in Hendra, where we had our photos taken with some of the many fascinating specimens available for loan - from dinosaur bones to toads, turtles and typewriters!

QM Loans is Queensland Museum’s object library for Queensland schools, early years, aged care, and community groups. The collection features thoughtfully curated kits and sets of museum objects that support the Australian Curriculum, early learning, and community engagement. It’s an incredible resource! Each year, this program gives thousands of children hands-on access to Queensland Museum’s collection and inspiring a lifelong love of learning and Queensland stories.

🩷 A BIG thank you to Brooke for generously giving her time to guide us through QM Loans and showcase this amazing service.

If you’re an educator, this is a fantastic resource to explore. Find out more here:
👉 https://www.museum.qld.gov.au/learn-and-discover/qm-loans/

M&G QLD's Ben, Nadya, Stephen and Andrea, picture with Brooke (centre) in the group photo😊

International Museum Day - ICOM Australian Museums and Galleries Association Queensland Public Galleries Queensland Arts Queensland Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art State Library of Queensland

14/05/2026

AFGHANISTAN challenges audiences to look beyond headlines, encouraging thoughtful engagement and meaningful discussions around what it means to survive—and thrive—in the face of adversity.

This exhibition is not just a showcase of Andrew Quilty’s artistic talents; it’s an invitation to connect with the stories behind the images, to empathise with distant lives, and to explore the vibrancy and complexity of Afghan society.

ANDREW QUILTY: AFGHANISTAN
Now showing until 14 June, 2026

Afghanistan is a Museums & Galleries Queensland (M&G QLD) touring exhibition presented in partnership with photojournalist and author Andrew Quilty, and curator Ellie Waterhouse. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government's Visions of Australia program. It is proudly sponsored by Heckler and supported by Human Rights Watch.

M&G QLD is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

Image: Andrew Quilty, Qala-e Musa, Kabul City, Kabul Province, 24/1/2018, inkjet pigment print on Alupanel, 31 x 46.5 cm. Courtesy of Andrew Quilty.

Visit Noosa Museums & Galleries Queensland

12/05/2026

What a night !✨🌙 THANKS to everyone who joined us for the opening of our new exhibitions at
The Condensery.

We had such a great time celebrating the artist’s achievements.

Our three new exhibitions – ‘Shifting Ground’, ‘Earthen form’ and ‘Unturned’ are on display until 12 July 2026.

Visit during our opening hours from 10am to 4pm, Wed to Sunday.

Photos by Jim Filmer

08/05/2026

📣 M&G QLD Annual Sector Survey - Closing date extended to Wednesday 20 May 2026 📣

Museums & Galleries Queensland (M&G QLD) is seeking your assistance to collect essential statistical data about museums and galleries across Queensland for the 2025 financial or calendar year. The data gathered will inform M&G QLD’s 2025 Queensland Museum and Gallery Sector Snapshot and directly support our submission to the Australian Government’s national cultural policy consultation.

🔗 Museum Survey: https://magsq.com.au/ninja-forms/11p7hp/

🔗 Gallery Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9JLCMLQ

07/05/2026

M&G QLD's Exhibition Development and Touring Program's Call for Proposals closes next Friday, 15 May 2026.

For more information, visit:
https://magsq.com.au/touring-exhibitions/



AusGov Office for the Arts

Arts Queensland

06/05/2026

Registrations for Queensland Museum’s free Community Museum WHS & Risk Toolkit Seminar close this Friday, 8 May.

Held at the Queensland Museum Rail Workshops, Ipswich, on Monday 18 May, this one-day seminar will provide an insight into an array of contemporary issues affecting collecting institutions across Australia. Facilitated by Queensland Museum as part of the Enforceable Undertaking between Queensland Museum and Office of Industrial Relations, this seminar is provided free of charge to community museums staff.

Presentations from key Queensland Museum staff will cover the following topics and activities:

• Work Health and Safety in a Museum
• QM Community Museums WHS Toolkit
• Repatriation of First Nations objects
• Mould remediation of collection items
• Preventive Conservation
• WHS in Curation

Follow the link below to register:
https://www.museum.qld.gov.au/rail-workshops/whats-on/community-museums-whs-risk-toolkit-seminar/

Registrations are now open for the upcoming Community Museums Seminar at Queensland Museum Rail Workshops on Monday, 18 May 2026.

01/05/2026

M&G QLD is delighted to announce the appointment of Tracey Heathwood, Director at Artspace Mackay, as a new member of our Board of Directors.

At Artspace Mackay, Tracey leads the strategic direction and delivery of a dynamic contemporary visual arts program for the Mackay region. With extensive experience working across regional and public gallery contexts, Tracey is deeply committed to strengthening the sustainability, visibility, and impact of regional galleries across Queensland. She currently serves as President of Public Galleries Queensland, advocating for the professional, cultural, and economic value of public galleries and fostering collaboration across the statewide network. Tracey is also a board member of Crossroad Arts Inc., supporting inclusive arts practice and community-driven cultural development. Tracey brings a strong passion for regional galleries as vital civic and cultural institutions, championing access to high-quality arts experiences regardless of geography. Her leadership is underpinned by a belief in the power of the arts to reflect local identity, support artists, and enrich regional communities.

We congratulate Tracey on her appointment and look forward to working with her.

Photo: Tracey Heathwood, Director, Artspace Mackay. Courtesy of Tracey Heathwood.