Australian Centre for Contemporary Art

From the building itself to the art inside, everything about Melbourne’s premier contemporary art centre is designed to challenge and inspire.

The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) is Melbourne’s premier contemporary art gallery. The gallery is operated in the Kunsthalle tradition, which means it commissions, rather than collects, art from Melbourne and around the world. As a result, the center’s exhibitions are in a constant state of flux, and with each visit you’ll be in for a completely different experience. The center is the only one of its kind in Australia that operates in this style.

The building that houses the center was designed by the Melbourne architectural firm Wood Marsh, and is considered a piece of art itself. Wander around the center and take in the angular form of the building. The distinctive red steel facade makes the building one of the most recognizable in Melbourne.

Once inside, see cutting-edge art from all over the world. A large focus is placed on up-and-coming artists to provide them with a space to present their works to a larger audience.

Past exhibitions have ranged from audio-visual presentations to room-filling sculptures and installations. Interactive art has also been given free reign in the center and offers sometimes intense immersive experiences. The gallery space is comparatively small and typically only one or two exhibitions are held at a time. Check what’s on at the center at the ACCA website before you visit.

The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art is located in Southbank, Melbourne, and is accessible by a number of tram routes. It’s also a short 10-minute walk south of Flinders Street Station, the city’s main train terminal. There is metered parking on the streets and user-pay parking in nearby commercial lots. The center is open daily, except Monday, Good Friday and Christmas Day, and admission is free.