Established in 2003, TarraWarra Museum of Art is a not-for-profit public art gallery located on Wurundjeri Country in the Yarra Valley, Victoria.
In Woiwurrung—the language of the Wurundjeri people—Tarrawarra translates approximately as 'slow moving waters' and is the name given to thearea in which the Museum is located.
Not only did the founding patrons Marc Besen AC and the late Eva Besen AO gift the Museum building, they also donated over 600 artworks from their private collection of 20th and 21st century Australian art.
Building on the Eva and Marc Besen gift, the Eva and Marc Besen Centre, a purpose built education and visible storage centre, opened in March 2025.
Designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects with landscaping by OCULUS (in collaboration with Wurundjeri horticulturalist Craig Murphy Wandin), this award-winning building has enabled the Museum to significantly expand uponour public programs and learning and engagement activities.
By 2026, the Centre will be able to facilitate 167 public and learning and engagement programs annually.
TarraWarra Museum of Art has a national and international reputation for curating significant exhibitions and programs with Australian and international contemporary artists and curators.
TheMuseum presents three to four major exhibitions per year featuring Australian and international artists and guest curators.
TarraWarra Museum of Art understands the vital role that art can play in fostering a culture and a community that proudly recognises and respects the creative expressions, living traditions, deepknowledge systems, diverse talents, and abiding connection to Country of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.
Through the presentation of a range of stimulating, innovative and challenging commissions, exhibitions, public programs, and learning and engagementactivities we have provided opportunities for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples to share with our audiences their diverse artistic and cultural practices, express their historical experiences and convey their unique contemporary perspectives and insights.
From July 2023–July 2025, the Museum implemented its first Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan which involves the full support and commitment of all management and staff.This 4 day a week position is located at the TarraWarra Museum of Art and is responsible for developing and engaging the Museum's external stakeholders, including sponsors, supporters and partners.
These range across private philanthropic foundations, corporate companies, local, stateand federal funding bodies, local council, and a range of in-kind supporters.
The position also actively works with the TarraWarra Museum of Art Board.
Key Performance Indicators1.
Maximise sponsorship and financial opportunities, striving to achieve financial donations of $500,000 per annum and secure 5 sponsorship relationships for the next 5-10 years.2.
Actively develop the Museum's TarraWarra Contemporary donor group3.
Ensure the timely acquittal of governmen