Large Project of the Year Award
29 April 2026
The Potter Museum of Art, at the University of Melbourne, has been named winner of the Large Project of the Year at the 2026 Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards, held on Tuesday 28 April at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.
Now in their 32nd year, the Awards are delivered in partnership by Australian Museums and Galleries Association Victoria (AMaGA Victoria) and Public Galleries Association of Victoria (PGAV), recognising outstanding achievement across the museum, gallery and community collecting sector.
‘"This exhibition unites an extraordinary range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks, highlighting the enduring depth, creativity, and resilience of First Peoples' cultural expression. By weaving together historical pieces, contemporary practice, and Indigenous-led insights, the exhibition offers a contemplative and immersive experience, inviting audiences to connect with Australia's past and present in a meaningful and resonant way." ’
Curated by Associate Provost and Distinguished Professor Marcia Langton AO, Senior Curator Judith Ryan AM, and Associate Curator Shanysa McConville, 65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art celebrated the brilliance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art while confronting the dark heart of Australia’s colonial history and proclaimed the importance of Indigenous knowledge and agency.
The 2026 Awards received more than 70 nominations from across Victoria's museums, galleries and community collecting organisations.
