Uncover New South Wales's thriving regional art scene at a rich array of art galleries beyond Sydney. Connect with your destination through art inspired by the local landscape or created by the people who call it home. Here are just a few renowned arts institutions bound to enrich your next NSW adventure, while art lovers can also look forward to refurbishments of several esteemed regional galleries including the Newcastle Art Gallery — Australia's first purpose-built regional gallery.

Peer inside an artist's studio in the Tweed

Prepare to be awestruck by the recreations of the studio of late artist Margaret Olley, set up in her home in Sydney's Paddington at the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre in Murwillumbah on the Far North Coast. Gain fascinating insights into the life and work of the celebrated still-life artist, who attended primary school in the Tweed hinterland town of Murwillumbah, as you peer into the famously cluttered rooms. Find plenty more to love about this scenically situated gallery, including permanent and touring exhibitions showcasing works by national and regional artists, and soul-stirring views towards Wollumbin (Mount Warning) from the terrace of the gallery's recently relaunched café, Apex Dining.

Be amazed by the art collection of Armidale

Revel in one of regional Australia's most comprehensive overviews of Australian art history at the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM) in Armidale, a six-hour drive northwest of Sydney. At the core of this institution is the Howard Hinton Collection, which NERAM was purpose-built to house in 1983, with more than 1,000 significant works by Australian art legends including Arthur Streeton, Margaret Preston, and Brett Whiteley. Also to be enjoyed are touring exhibitions from around Australia and works by local artists. Unleash your own creativity at an art class or workshop, and savour your gallery experience over a wholesome meal at its Six Counties café.

Enjoy a new kind of arts immersion in the Shoalhaven

Escape to the Shoalhaven on the NSW South Coast to experience one of Australia's most significant new cultural institutions at Bundanon, a 1,000-hectare estate gifted to Australians by the family of world-renowned landscape artist Arthur Boyd. Anchoring this peaceful bush property which relaunched in 2022, is a sustainably designed art museum featuring changing contemporary exhibitions, with visitors invited to enjoy the serene setting for a longer stay in the striking Bridge wing, housing 32 minimalist-chic rooms overlooking the glorious Shoalhaven River — a vista with plenty of potential to inspire a masterpiece.

Visit new gallery Ngununggula in the Southern Highlands

Reflect on what it means to belong at Ngununggula, a gallery in the lush Southern Highlands which takes its name from the word for 'belonging' in the traditional language of the local Gundungurra Aboriginal people. Opened in 2021 in a former historic dairy in Bowral, a popular weekend escape just a 90-minute drive south of Sydney, the state-of-the-art venue features four gallery spaces showcasing a program that represents the region and beyond through significant exhibitions, artist-led projects, live events, workshops, artist talks, and public programs, all designed to connect visitors with art and ideas.

Celebrate outback art in Broken Hill

Discover why the Outback NSW outpost of Broken Hill is known for its creativity at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery (BHRAG), housed in a heritage-listed emporium. Be mesmerised by the permanent collection of the state's oldest regional gallery, including works by modern masters like Arthur Streeton and Margaret Preston, contemporary artists such as Abdul-Rahman Abdullah and Elisabeth Cummings, and a rich collection of works by leading Indigenous artists including Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri and local Barkindji Elder Uncle Badger Bates. Rounding out its annual program are exhibitions by local artists, touring shows and two prestigious prizes: the Pro Hart Outback Art Prize and the Maari Ma Indigenous Art Awards (MMIAA). Channel your inspiration into one of BHRAG's regular workshops.

Be wowed by Aboriginal art in Moree

Indulge a love of Aboriginal art at the Bank Art Museum Moree (BAMM) in the state's northern wheatbelt, which holds one of the most significant collections of contemporary Indigenous art in regional NSW. Admire works by the likes of local painter Margaret Adams and visionary photographer Michael Riley, complemented by contemporary works by Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists from the region and beyond. Operating in a beautiful old candy-coloured bank building in central Moree dating from 1911, the gallery also hosts regular art workshops and tours. Relax after your art experience with a restorative dip in Moree's famous artesian waters.

Admire wearable art in Griffith

Be charmed by the Griffith Regional Art Gallery (GRAG) before you even step inside, with this distinctive pink art-deco arts space known for its two permanent collections, the National Contemporary Jewellery Award Collection and a Couture Collection representing the life's work of fashion designers Ross Weymouth and John Claringbold. After admiring the Riverina gallery's glittering jewellery, gorgeous gowns, touring exhibitions and works by local artists, treat yourself to a memorable keepsake from the gift shop. The store features a range of handcrafted and artisan products from carved wooden bangles to resin bowls, with many items made by artists from Griffith, a six-and-a-half-hour drive southwest of Sydney.

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