HISTORY

Canberra Contemporary was established in 1987 through the merger of two galleries, Bitumen River Gallery and the Arts Council Gallery. With a rich history spanning over four decades, Canberra Contemporary has played a significant role in shaping the cultural landscape of Kamberri/Canberra.

Bitumen River Gallery was established in 1981 in a modest shed, in the inner Canberra suburb of Manuka. “The little Punk Gallery” as National Gallery Director James Mollison described it at the time, was situated on the edge of a bitumen carpark that serviced St Christopher Cathedral and a nearby school. This artist-led space was a hub for ambitious and daring work, and we consider it to be the first iteration of Canberra Contemporary.

MERGER OF TWO GALLERIES

The art scene in Canberra had been slowly blossoming since the 1920s and gained significant momentum by the late 1970s and early 1980s. This growth was fuelled by a rising population and a surge in social activism within the capital, which helped shape the local contemporary art scene. In 1985, the staff and supporters of Bitumen River Gallery convened to envision its future direction. Key topics of discussion included a strong aspiration to expand the gallery into a larger space that could accommodate dual exhibitions and a variety of installations, such as performance art, sculpture, and experimental, boundary-pushing works. There was also a clear commitment to enhancing accessibility and fostering deeper engagement with the arts community.

Gorman House Community Art Centre had undergone renovations in 1981 and stood out as an ideal venue for these ambitions. The Arts Council Gallery had not long occupied this space when a merger of the two organisations was proposed in 1986, and made official in 1987. The fusion of Bitumen River Gallery and The Arts Council Gallery was a logical step towards establishing a nationally recognised, government-funded, contemporary art space for Canberra. The new organisation was subsequently named Canberra Contemporary Art Space (CCAS) and has programs across two locations (Manuka – the former Bitumen River Gallery, and Braddon – the former Arts Council Gallery).

RELOCATION

In 2020, after more than 30 years at Gorman Arts Centre, CCAS moved its main space and offices to the premiere East Space lakeside venue at Commonwealth Place in the National Triangle, within walking distance of the National Gallery of Australia, National Portrait Gallery, National Library and Museum of Australian Democracy. This prime location, coupled with the quality exhibition space, has cemented CCAS’s important role in the arts ecosystem and increased and diversified audiences.

CANBERRA CONTEMPORARY TODAY

As of 2025, we have simplified our name to Canberra Contemporary, reinforcing our identity as bold, experimental, and risk-taking—yet timeless. The exhibition space that was once Bitumen River Gallery has continued to be an important satellite gallery for Canberra Contemporary and is now rebranded as Platform by Canberra Contemporary (formerly CCAS Manuka). Here, we continue to foster career development and offer risk-taking opportunities for Kamberri/Canberra-based artists and nurturing emerging talent, while remaining true to the ethos of the original space.

Discover more about the history of contemporary art in the ACT in Dr. Anni Doyle Wawrzyńczak’s book, How Local Art Made Australia’s National Capital.
Wawrzyńczak, Anni Doyle. How Local Art Made Australia’s National Capital. 1st ed. ANU Press, 2020.