Art Gallery of Western Australia Museum

Website: https://artgallery.wa.gov.au/

The Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) is the state art museum based in Perth, located in the Perth Cultural Centre in the city’s central area. It functions as the principal public gallery for Western Australia with a focus on Indigenous, Australian and international art.

Permanent displays showcase Indigenous Australian art alongside historical and contemporary works by Western Australian and national artists; the gallery also presents international touring exhibitions in multiple temporary galleries. The institution runs public programmes, education activities and events aimed at families, schools and specialist audiences.

AGWA was established to collect, preserve and present art for the state and to support cultural programmes in Perth; its buildings and galleries have hosted major temporary exhibitions alongside the permanent holdings. The gallery is integrated with the Perth Cultural Centre precinct and is within walking distance of the central business district and Northbridge.

Sited in central Perth, the gallery sits adjacent to other cultural institutions and is easily reached on foot or by public transport from the city centre.

• Institutional role: Operates as the state public art museum for Western Australia and is located within the Perth Cultural Centre adjacent to the central business district.
• Admission policy: Entry to the permanent collection is typically free, while major temporary exhibitions may charge admission or recommend donations.

What to See#

• Indigenous and Australian collections: Permanent galleries presenting Indigenous Australian art alongside historical and contemporary works by Western Australian and national artists.
• Temporary exhibition galleries: Temporary exhibition spaces that host rotating national and international shows, often occupying several galleries on the ground floor.
• Learning and events spaces: Learning and public programme rooms used for workshops, guided tours and family activities, often linked to current exhibitions.
• Courtyard and sculpture areas: Courtyard and sculpture areas used for outdoor installations and occasional public events within the Perth Cultural Centre precinct.

Located in Perth’s cultural precinct, the gallery is walkable from the CBD and Elizabeth Quay. Use local Transperth buses or the nearby train stations; city tram and bus services provide convenient access.

• Plan for an hour at least; the state collection mixes historical and contemporary works in ways that are more coherent than first impressions suggest.
• Check opening times for free-entry days or special late-night events - the gallery occasionally participates in Perth cultural nights.
• Look for local Aboriginal art in the collection, which gives an essential perspective often overshadowed by European-focused holdings.