TarraWarra Museum Of Art

The TarraWarra Museum of Art is the first privately funded, significant public visual arts museum to be set up under the Australian Government's philanthropic measures announced in March 1999. TWMA operates as a not-for-profit institution, with a charter to display Australian art from the second half of the twentieth century to the present day. Eva and Marc Besen had long dreamt of sharing their inexhaustible passion for Australian art with the people of Australia and beyond. In 1999, the first steps were taken to make this dream a reality, with the formulation of a vision for a new museum in the Yarra Valley, with its own collection of Australian art chosen from their private collection that has been lovingly assembled over the last fifty years. In 2000, an architectural competition was conducted with five of Melbourne's most outstanding architects invited to present design schemes for the museum. Allan Powell's design for this elegant building, arcing gently from the earth in concert with the contours and hues of the landscape, was chosen. This realisation of Eva and Marc Besen's vision in their gift to the public, provides a retreat from the city and an opportunity to experience three of their enduring passions, Australian modern art, architecture and the beautiful Yarra Valley landscape. 2011-2012 Exhibition Program includes: - Sandra Leveson: Paintings of Poise & Passion (6 August - 2 October 2011) - Boundary Line (6 August - 2 October 2011) - James Morrison: The Great Tasmanian Wars (6 August - 13 November 2011) - William Delafield Cook: A Survey (15 October 2011 - 12 February 2012) - Jacqueline Mitelman: Facetime (15 October 2011 - 12 February 2012) - Sam Leach: The Ecstasy of Infrastructure (19 November 2011 - 4 March 2012)