Located in the heart of Ararat in the landmark Town Hall, Ararat Regional Art Gallery offers a varied program encompassing national touring exhibitions, aspects of the permanent collection and exhibitions by visiting textile fibre and regional artists. The Gallery was established in 1968 and has a unique place amongst Australia's public galleries through its longstanding commitment to supporting and promoting textile and fibre art - a curatorial and collection focus that began in the early 1970s. While the permanent collection is not always on display, the Gallery maintains its dedication to highlighting excellence, innovation and diversity in contemporary textile fibre art practice through an annual exhibition program that features visiting artists and touring exhibitions.